Market based interleaved wagering system

ABSTRACT

A market based interleaved wagering system is disclosed. The system includes an interactive server constructed to: provide an interactive application; receive an identification of one or more application generated stocks; communicate the stock identification and application telemetry; and receive a wager outcome and an application resource based on the identified stocks and application telemetry. The system also includes a wager server constructed to: receive a wager request and the stock identification; communicate a request for stock information associated with the stock identification; receive stock information associated with the stock identification; generate a wager outcome based on the stock information; and communicate the wager outcome. The system also includes the application controller constructed to: receive the stock identification and application telemetry; communicate the wager request and stock identification, based on the application telemetry; receive the wager outcome; and communicate application resources and application instructions based on the wager outcome.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/535,808, filed on Nov. 7, 2014, which is a continuation of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 14/521,338, filed on Oct. 22, 2014, whichclaims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No.61/894,654, filed Oct. 23, 2013, the contents of each of which areincorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

This application references Patent Cooperation Treaty Application No.PCT/US11/26768, filed Mar. 1, 2011, Patent Cooperation TreatyApplication No. PCT/US11/63587, filed Dec. 6, 2011, and PatentCooperation Treaty Application No. PCT/US12/58156, filed Sep. 29, 2012,the contents of each of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention are generally related tocommunications within data processing systems. More particularly, thepresent invention relates to the communication and processing ofwagering data.

BACKGROUND

The gaming industry has traditionally developed electronic gamingmachines that present simple wagering games to a user. The communicationand processing needs for these simple wagering games are easily metusing conventional processing systems. However, more complicatedwagering games need communication and processing systems that are bettersuited for implementing these more complicated wagering games. Variousaspects of embodiments of the present invention meet such a need.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Systems in accordance with embodiments of the invention provide acommunication and data processing system constructed for a distributedgaming system.

One embodiment includes an electromechanical gaming machine constructedto receive real credits from a user connected to a wager server by acommunication link; the wager server connected to an application serverby the communication link, wherein the wager server is constructed to:receive, via a network from the application server, a wager request andan identification of application generated stocks; distribute, over thenetwork to a stock server, a request for stock information associatedwith the received identification of the application generated stocks;receive, via the network from the stock server, stock informationassociated with the received identification of the application generatedstocks; generate a random result using a random number generator, usinga key value based on the received stock information; determine a wageroutcome based on the random result; distribute, via the network to theapplication server, the wager outcome; and an interactive controllerconnected to the application server by the network, wherein theinteractive controller is constructed to: provide a market-basedentertainment game; generate a visual display for the market-basedentertainment game; receive, from the user, the identification of theapplication generated stocks; distribute, over the network to anapplication server, the identification of the application generatedstocks; determine application telemetry; receive, via the network fromthe application server, a wager outcome and an application resourcebased on the identified application generated stocks and applicationtelemetry; and make available to user player the application resourceduring the user's play of the market-based entertainment game; and theapplication server connected to the interactive controller and the wagerserver via the network, wherein the application server is constructedto: receive, via the network, the interactive controller, theidentification of the application generated stocks and the applicationtelemetry; distribute, via the network to the wager server, the wagerrequest and identification of the application generated stocks, based onthe application telemetry; receive, via the network from the wagerserver, the wager outcome; and distribute, over the network to theinteractive controller, application resources and applicationinstructions based on the received wager outcome.

In a further embodiment, the interactive controller and the applicationserver are constructed from the same device, and the application serveris operatively connected to the wager server by a network.

In a further embodiment, the wager server and the application server areconstructed from the same device, and the application server isoperatively connected to the interactive controller by a network.

In a further embodiment, generating the wager outcome comprises:generating a random result using a random number generator, using a keyvalue based on the received stock information; and determining the wageroutcome based on the random result.

In a further embodiment, the key value is based on the least significantdigit of a stock value, wherein the received stock information comprisesstock value.

In a further embodiment, generating the wager outcome comprises:generating a random result using a random number generator; determiningthe wager outcome based on the random result and a paytable, thepaytable being chosen from a plurality of paytables based on thereceived stock information.

In a further embodiment, the paytable is chosen if the received stockinformation indicates a downward trend in stock value

In a further embodiment, the paytable is chosen if the received stockinformation indicates an upward trend in stock value.

In a further embodiment, the wager server is constructed to apply asmoothing function to the stock information, and the wager outcome isgenerated based on the result of applying the smoothing function to thestock information.

One embodiment includes an electromechanical gaming machine constructedto receive real credits from a user connected to a real world server bya communication link; a wager server constructed to: receive, over anetwork from an application server, a wager request and anidentification of application generated stocks, wherein theidentification is received from the user, via an interactive controller;distribute, via the network to a stock server, a request for stockinformation associated with the received identification of theapplication generated stocks; receive, via the network from the stockserver, stock information associated with the received identification ofthe application generated stocks; generate a random result using arandom number generator, using a key value based on the received stockinformation; determine a wager outcome based on the random result;distribute, via the network to the application server, the wageroutcome; and the application server operatively connecting the wagerserver to the interactive controller by the network, wherein theapplication server is constructed to: receive, via the network from theinteractive controller, the identification of the application generatedstocks and application telemetry; distribute, via the network to thewager server, the wager request and identification of the applicationgenerated stocks, based on the application telemetry; receive, via thenetwork from the wager server, the wager outcome; and distribute, viathe network to the interactive controller, application resources andapplication instructions to provide a market-based entertainment gamebased on the received wager outcome.

One embodiment includes an electromechanical gaming machine constructedto receive real credits from a user connected to a real world server bya communication link; an interactive controller constructed to: providea market-based entertainment game; generate a visual display for themarket-based entertainment game; receive, from the user, anidentification of application generated stocks; distribute, over anetwork to an application server, the identification of the applicationgenerated stocks; determine application telemetry; and receive, via thenetwork from the application server, a wager outcome and an applicationresource based on the identified application generated stocks andapplication telemetry; and the application server operatively connectingthe interactive controller to a wager server, wherein the applicationserver is constructed to: receive, via the network from the interactivecontroller, the identification of the application generated stocks andapplication telemetry; distribute, via the network to a wager server, awager request and identification of the application generated stocks,based on the application telemetry; receive, via the network from thewager server, a wager outcome, wherein the wager outcome is generatedbased on stock information received from a stock server and associatedwith the identified application generated stocks; and distribute, viathe network to the interactive controller, application resources andapplication instructions based on the received wager outcome.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram of a structure of a market based interleavedwagering system in accordance with various embodiments of the invention.

FIGS. 2A, 2B, 2C, and 2D are illustrations of interactive controllers ofa market based interleaved wagering system in accordance with variousembodiments of the invention.

FIGS. 3A, 3B and 3C are network diagrams of distributed market basedinterleaved wagering systems in accordance with various embodiments ofthe invention.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are diagrams of a structure of an interactive controllerof a market based interleaved wagering system in accordance with variousembodiments of the invention.

FIGS. 5A and 5B are diagrams of a structure of a wager controller of amarket based interleaved wagering system in accordance with variousembodiments of the invention.

FIGS. 6A and 6B are diagrams of a structure of an application controllerof a market based interleaved wagering system in accordance with variousembodiments of the invention.

FIG. 7 is a sequence diagram of interactions between components of amarket based interleaved wagering system in accordance with variousembodiments of the invention.

FIG. 8 is a collaboration diagram for components of a market basedinterleaved wagering system in accordance with various embodiments ofthe invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram of interactions between various components of thesystem and processes in accordance with various embodiments of theinvention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram of interactions between various components of thesystem and processes in accordance with various embodiments of theinvention.

FIG. 11 is a diagram of the structure of a market based interleavedwagering system in accordance with various embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 12 is a sequence diagram of interactions between components of amarket based interleaved wagering system in accordance with variousembodiments of the invention.

FIG. 13 is a sequence diagram of interactions between components of amarket based interleaved wagering system in accordance with variousembodiments of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A market based interleaved wagering system interleaves wagering withnon-wagering activities. In some embodiments of a market basedinterleaved wagering system an interactive application executed by aninteractive controller provides non-wagering components of the marketbased interleaved wagering system. The interactive controller isoperatively connected to an application controller that manages andconfigures the interactive application of the interactive controller anddetermines when wagers should be interleaved with the operations of theinteractive application. The application controller is furtheroperatively connected to a wager controller that provides one or morewagering propositions for one or more wagers.

In some embodiments, the interactive controller also includes a wageringuser interface that is used to display data about a wagering process,including but not limited a wager outcome of a wager made in accordancewith a wagering proposition. The content of the wagering user interfaceis controlled by the application controller and includes contentprovided by the wager controller.

In several embodiments, a user or user interactions are represented in amarket based interleaved wagering system by the electronicrepresentation of interactions between the user and the interactiveapplication, typically received via a user interface of the interactiveapplication, and a user profile of the market based interleaved wageringsystem associated with the user.

Many different types of interactive applications may be utilized withthe market based interleaved wagering system. In some embodiments, theinteractive application reacts to the physical activity of the user. Inthese embodiments, the user interacts with the interactive applicationthrough one or more sensors that monitor the user's physical activities.Such sensors may include, but are not limited to, physiological sensorsthat monitor the physiology of the user, environmental sensors thatmonitor the physical environment of the user, accelerometers thatmonitor changes in motion of the user, and location sensors that monitorthe location of the user such as global positioning sensors.

In some embodiments, the interactive application is a skill-basedinteractive game that is played by the user.

In some embodiments, the interactive application is a tool used by theuser to achieve some useful goal.

In operation, a user interacts with the interactive application usingvarious types of elements of the interactive application in aninteractive application environment. Elements are interactiveapplication resources utilized by the user within the interactiveapplication environment to provide an interactive experience for theuser. Wagers of credits are made in accordance with a wageringproposition as triggered by the user's use of one or more of theelements of the interactive application. Wager outcomes of wagers ofcredits made in accordance with the wagering proposition can causeconsumption, loss or accrual of credits.

In accordance with some embodiments, wager outcomes of wagering eventscan influence elements in the interactive application such as, but notlimited to, providing one or more new elements, restoring one or moreconsumed elements, causing the loss of one or more elements, andrestoration or placement of one or more fixed elements.

In various embodiments, the wagers may be made using one or more credits(Cr).

In some embodiments, Cr can be one or more credits that are purchasedusing, and redeemed in, a real world currency having a real world value.

In many embodiments, Cr can be one or more credits in a virtualcurrency. Virtual currency is an alternate currency that can beacquired, purchased or transferred by or to a user, but does notnecessarily directly correlate to a real world currency. In many suchembodiments, Cr in a virtual currency are allowed to be purchased usinga real world currency but are prevented from being redeemed in a realworld currency having a real world value.

In several embodiments, during interaction with the interactiveapplication using the elements, a user can optionally consume and/oraccrue application environment credit (AC) within the interactiveapplication as a result of the user's use of the interactiveapplication. AC can be in the form of, but is not limited to,application environment credits, experience points, and pointsgenerally.

In various embodiments, when the interactive application is askill-based interactive game, AC is awarded to a player of theskill-based interactive game on the basis of the player's skillful playof the skill-based interactive game. In such embodiments, AC may beanalogous to the score in a typical video game. The skill-basedinteractive game can have one or more scoring criteria, embedded withinan application controller and/or an interactive controller that providesthe skill-based interactive game, that reflect user performance againstone or more goals of the skill-based interactive game.

In many embodiments, AC can be used to purchase in-application items,including but not limited to, application elements that have particularproperties, power ups for existing items, and other item enhancements.

In some embodiments, AC may be used to earn entrance into a sweepstakesdrawing, to earn entrance in a tournament with prizes, to score in thetournament, and/or to participate and/or score in any other game event.

In several embodiments, AC can be stored on a user-tracking card or in anetwork-based user tracking system where the AC is attributed to aspecific user.

In many embodiments, a wagering proposition includes a wager of AC for awager outcome of a randomly generated payout of interactive applicationAC, elements, and/or objects in accordance with a wagering proposition.

In a number of embodiments, a wager of an amount of Cr results in awager outcome of a payout of AC, elements, and/or objects that have anCr value if cashed out.

In some embodiments, in a case that an interactive application is askill-based interactive game, interactive application objects includein-application objects that may be used by a player of the skill-basedinteractive game to enhance the player's gameplay of the skill-basedinteractive game. Such objects include, but are not limited to,power-ups, enhanced in-application items, and the like. In someembodiments, the interactive application objects include objects thatare detrimental to the player's play of the skill-based interactive gamesuch as, but not limited to, obstructions in the game space, a temporaryplayer handicap, an enhanced opponent, and the like.

In some embodiments, elements in an interactive application include, butare not limited to, enabling elements (EE) that are interactiveapplication environment resources utilized during the user's use of theinteractive application and whose utilization by the user while usingthe interactive application triggers execution of a wager in accordancewith a wagering proposition. In another embodiment, elements in aninteractive application include, but are not limited to, a reserveenabling element (REE), that is an element that converts into one ormore enabling elements upon occurrence of a release event during aninteractive session. In yet another embodiment, elements in aninteractive application include, but are not limited to, an actionableelement (AE) that is an element that is acted upon during use of theinteractive application to trigger a wager in accordance with a wageringproposition and may or may not be restorable during normal play of theinteractive application. In yet another embodiment, elements in aninteractive application include, but are not limited to, a commonenabling element (CEE) that is an element that may be shared by two ormore users and causes a wagering event and associated wager to betriggered in accordance with the wagering proposition when used by oneof the users during use of the interactive application. In someembodiments, in progressing through interactive application use, a usercan utilize elements during interactions with a controlled entity (CE).A CE is a character, entity, inanimate object, device or other objectunder control of a user.

In accordance with some embodiments of a market based interleavedwagering system, the triggering of the wagering event and/or wager canbe dependent upon an interactive application environment variable suchas, but not limited to, a required object (RO), a required environmentalcondition (REC), or a controlled entity characteristic (CEC). A RO is aspecific interactive application object in an interactive applicationacted upon for an AE to be completed. A non-limiting example of an RO isa specific key needed to open a door. An REC is an interactiveapplication state present within an interactive application for an AE tobe completed. A non-limiting example of an REC is daylight whosepresence enables a character to walk through woods. A CEC is a status ofthe CE within an interactive application for an AE to be completed. Anon-limiting example of a CEC is requirement that a CE have full healthpoints before entering battle. Although various interactive applicationresources such as, but not limited to, the types of interactiveapplication elements as discussed herein may be used to trigger a wagerin accordance with a wagering proposition, one skilled in the art willrecognize that any interactive application resource can be utilized in amarket based interleaved wagering system to trigger of a wager asappropriate to the specification of a specific application in accordancewith various embodiments of the invention.

In several embodiments, a market based interleaved wagering system canutilize an application controller to monitor use of the interactiveapplication executed by an interactive controller for detecting atrigger of a wagering event. The trigger for the wagering event can bedetected by the application controller from the utilization of theinteractive application in accordance with at least one wagering eventoccurrence rule. The trigger of the wagering event can be communicatedto a wager controller. In response to notification of the trigger, thewager controller executes a wager in accordance with a wageringproposition. In addition, use of an interactive application in a marketbased interleaved wagering system can be modified by the applicationcontroller based upon the wager outcome.

In several embodiments, a wagering event occurrence can be determinedfrom one or more application environment variables within an interactiveapplication that are used to trigger a wager and/or associated wager inaccordance with a wagering proposition. Application environmentvariables can include, but are not limited to, passage of a period oftime during market based interleaved wagering system interactiveapplication use, a result from a market based interleaved wageringsystem interactive application session (such as, but not limited to,achieving a goal or a particular score), a user action that is aconsumption of an element, or a user action that achieves a combinationof elements to be associated with a user profile.

In numerous embodiments, an interactive application instruction is aninstruction to an interactive controller and/or an interactiveapplication to modify an interactive application application state ormodify one or more interactive application resources. In someembodiments, the interactive application instructions may be based uponone or more of a wager outcome and application environment variables. Aninteractive application instruction can modify any aspect of aninteractive application, such as, but not limited to, an addition of aperiod of time available for a current interactive application sessionfor the interactive application of market based interleaved wageringsystem, an addition of a period of time available for a future marketbased interleaved wagering system interactive application session or anyother modification to the interactive application elements that can beutilized during interactive application use. In some embodiments, aninteractive application instruction can modify a type of element whoseconsumption triggers a wagering event occurrence. In many embodiments,an interactive application instruction can modify a type of elementwhose consumption is not required in a wagering event occurrence.

In a number of embodiments, a user interface can be utilized thatdepicts a status of the interactive application in the market basedinterleaved wagering system. A user interface can depict any aspect ofan interactive application including, but not limited to, anillustration of market based interleaved wagering system interactiveapplication use advancement as a user uses the market based interleavedwagering system.

In some embodiments, a market based interleaved wagering systemincluding an application controller operatively connected to a wagercontroller and operatively connected to an interactive controller mayprovide for interleaving entertainment content from an interactiveapplication. The market based interleaved wagering system provides forrandom wager outcomes in accordance with the wagering proposition thatare independent of user skill while providing an interactive experienceto the user that may be shaped by the user's skill.

In several embodiments, an application controller of a market basedinterleaved wagering system may provide for a communications interfacefor asynchronous communications between a wager controller and aninteractive application provided by an interactive controller, byoperatively connecting the interactive controller, and thus theinteractive controller's interactive application, with the wagercontroller. In some embodiments, asynchronous communications providedfor by a market based interleaved wagering system may reduce an amountof idle waiting time by an interactive controller of the market basedinterleaved wagering system, thus increasing an amount of processingresources that the interactive controller may provide to an interactiveapplication or other processes of the interactive controller. In manyembodiments, asynchronous communications provided for by a market basedinterleaved wagering system reduces an amount of idle waiting time by awager controller, thus increasing an amount of processing resources thatthe wager controller may provide to execution of wagers to determinewager outcomes, and other processes provided by the wager controller. Insome embodiments, a wager controller of a market based interleavedwagering system may be operatively connected to a plurality ofinteractive controllers through one or more application controllers andthe asynchronous communications provided for by the one or moreapplication controllers allows the wager controller to operate moreefficiently and provide wager outcomes to a larger number of interactivecontrollers than would be achievable without the one or more applicationcontrollers of the market based interleaved wagering system.

In some embodiments, a market based interleaved wagering systemincluding an application controller operatively connected to a wagercontroller and operatively connected to an interactive controller mayprovide for simplified communication protocols for communications of theinteractive controller as the interactive controller may communicateuser interactions with an interactive application provided by theinteractive controller to the application controller without regard to anature of a wagering proposition to be interleaved with processes of theinteractive application.

In various embodiments, a market based interleaved wagering systemincluding an application controller operatively connected to a wagercontroller and operatively connected to an interactive controller mayprovide for simplified communication protocols for communications of thewager controller as the wager controller may receive wager requests andcommunicate wager outcomes without regard to a nature of an interactiveapplication provided by the interactive controller.

Various types interleaved wagering systems are discussed in PatentCooperation Treaty Application No. PCT/US11/26768, filed Mar. 1, 2011,Patent Cooperation Treaty Application No. PCT/US11/63587, filed Dec. 6,2011, and Patent Cooperation Treaty Application No. PCT/US12/58156,filed Sep. 29, 2012, the contents of each of which are herebyincorporated by reference in their entirety.

Market Based Wagering Interleaved Systems

FIG. 1 is a diagram of a structure of a market based interleavedwagering system in accordance with various embodiments of the invention.The market based interleaved wagering system 128 includes an interactivecontroller 120, an application controller 112, and a wager controller102. The interactive controller 120 is operatively connected to, andcommunicates with, the application controller 112. The applicationcontroller 112 is also operatively connected to, and communicates with,the wager controller 102.

In several embodiments, the wager controller 102 is a controller forproviding one or more wagering propositions provided by the market basedinterleaved wagering system 128 and executes wagers in accordance withthe wagering propositions. Types of value of a wager can be one or moreof several different types. Types of value of a wager can include, butare not limited to, a wager of an amount of Cr corresponding to a realcurrency or a virtual currency, a wager of an amount of AC earned by theplayer through use of an interactive application, a wager of an amountof elements of an interactive application, and a wager of an amount ofobjects used in an interactive application. A wager outcome determinedfor a wager in accordance with a wagering proposition can increase ordecrease an amount of the type of value used in the wager, such as, butnot limited to, increasing an amount of Cr for a wager of Cr. In variousembodiments, a wager outcome determined for a wager in accordance with awagering proposition can increase or decrease an amount of a type ofvalue that is different than a type of value of the wager, such as, butnot limited to, increasing an amount of an object of an interactiveapplication for a wager of Cr.

In many embodiments, the wager controller 120 includes one or morepseudo random or random number generators (P/RNG) 106 for generatingrandom results, one or more paytables 108 for determining a wageroutcome from the random results, and one or more credit or value meters110 for storing amounts of wagered and won credits.

The one or more P/RNG generators 106 execute processes that can generaterandom or pseudo random results. The one or more paytables 108 aretables that can be used in conjunction with the random or pseudo randomresults to determine a wager outcome including an amount of Cr, AC,elements or objects won as a function of market based interleavedwagering system use. There can be one or more paytables 108 in the wagercontroller 102. The paytables 108 are used to implement one or morewagering propositions in conjunction with a random output of the randomor pseudo random results.

In some embodiments, selection of a paytable to use to execute a wagercan be based on factors including, but not limited to, interactiveapplication progress a user has achieved through use of the interactiveapplication, user identification, and eligibility of the user for bonusrounds.

In various embodiments, the interactive controller 120 provides aninteractive application 143 and provides human input devices (HIDs) andoutput devices for interacting with the user 140. The interactivecontroller 120 provides for user interactions 142 with the interactiveapplication 143 by receiving input from a user through the HIDs andproviding outputs such as video, audio and/or other sensory output tothe user using the output devices.

The interactive controller 120 is operatively connected to, andcommunicates with, the application controller 112. The interactivecontroller communicates application telemetry data 124 to theapplication controller 112 and receives application instructions andresources 136 from the application controller 112. Via the communicationof application instructions and resources 136, the applicationcontroller 112 can communicate certain interactive application resourcesincluding control parameters to the interactive application 143 toaffect the interactive application's execution by the interactivecontroller 120. In various embodiments, these interactive applicationcontrol parameters can be based on a wager outcome of a wager that wastriggered by an element in the interactive application being utilized oracted upon by the user.

In some embodiments, execution of the interactive application by theinteractive controller 120 communicates user interactions with theinteractive application to the application controller 112. Theapplication telemetry data 124 includes, but is not limited to, theuser's utilization of the elements in the interactive application.

In some embodiments, the interactive application 143 is a skill-basedinteractive game. In such embodiments, execution of the skill-basedinteractive game by the interactive controller 120 is based on theuser's skillful play of the skill-based interactive game. Theinteractive controller 120 can also communicate user choices made in theskill-based interactive game to the application controller 112 includedin the application telemetry data 124 such as, but not limited to, theuser's utilization of the elements of the skill-based interactive gameduring the user's skillful play of the skill-based interactive game. Insuch an embodiment, the application controller is interfaced to theinteractive controller 120 in order to allow the coupling of theskill-based interactive game to wagers made in accordance with awagering proposition.

In some embodiments, the interactive controller 120 includes one or moresensors 138 that sense various aspects of the physical environment ofthe interactive controller 120. Examples of sensors include, but are notlimited to: global positioning sensors (GPSs) for sensing communicationsfrom a GPS system to determine a position or location of the interactivecontroller; temperature sensors; accelerometers; pressure sensors; andthe like. Sensor telemetry data 128 is communicated by the interactivecontroller to the application controller 112. The application controller112 receives the sensor telemetry data 128 and uses the sensorytelemetry data to make wager decisions.

In many embodiments, the interactive controller includes a wagering userinterface 148 used to display wagering data to the user.

In various embodiments, an application control layer 131 resident in theinteractive controller 120 provides an interface between the interactivecontroller 120 and the application controller 112.

In many embodiments, application controller 112 provides an interfacebetween the interactive application 143 provided by the interactivecontroller 120 and a wagering proposition provided by the wagercontroller 102.

In some embodiments, the application controller 112 includes aninteractive controller interface 160 to an interactive controller. Theinteractive controller interface 160 provides for the communication ofdata between the interactive controller and the application controller,including but not limited to wager telemetry data 146, applicationinstructions and resources 136, application telemetry data 124, andsensor telemetry data 128.

In various embodiments, the application controller 112 includes a wagercontroller interface 162 to a wager controller. The wager controllerinterface 162 provides for communication of data between the applicationcontroller 112 and the wager controller, including but not limited towager outcome data 130 and wager data 129.

In some embodiments, the application controller 112 includes a usermanagement controller interface 164 to a user management controller. Theuser management controller interface 164 provides for communication ofdata between the application controller 112 and the user managementcontroller, including but not limited to session control data 154 andsession telemetry data 152.

The application controller 112 includes a business rule decision engine122 that receives telemetry data, such as application telemetry data 124and sensor telemetry data 128, from the interactive controller 120. Thebusiness rule decision engine 122 uses the telemetry data, along withtrigger logic 126 to generate wager data 129 used to trigger a wager inthe wager controller 102.

In some embodiments, the application telemetry data 124 includes, but isnot limited to, application environment variables that indicate thestate of the interactive application 143 being used by a user 140,interactive controller data indicating the state of the interactivecontroller, and user actions and interactions 142 between the user andthe interactive application 143 provided by the interactive controller120. The wagering and/or wager data 129 may include, but is not limitedto, an amount and type of the wager, a trigger of the wager, and aselection of a paytable 108 to be used when executing the wager.

In some embodiments, the business rule decision engine 122 also receiveswager outcome data 130 from the wager controller 102. The decisionengine 122 uses the wager outcome data 130, in conjunction with thetelemetry data and application logic 132 to generate applicationdecisions 134 communicated to an application resource generator 138. Theapplication resource generator 138 receives the application decisionsand uses the application decisions to generate application instructionsand application resources 136 to be communicated to the interactiveapplication 143.

In many embodiments, the application controller 112 includes a pseudorandom or random result generator used to generate random results thatare communicated to the application resource generator 138. Theapplication resource generator 138 uses the random results to generateapplication instructions and application resources 136 to becommunicated to the interactive application 143.

In various embodiments, the business rule decision engine 122 alsodetermines an amount of AC to award to the user 140 based at least inpart on the user's use of the interactive application of the marketbased interleaved wagering system as determined from the applicationtelemetry data 124. In some embodiments, wager outcome data 130 may alsobe used to determine the amount of AC that should be awarded to theuser.

In numerous embodiments, the interactive application is a skill-basedinteractive game and the AC is awarded to the user for the user'sskillful play of the skill-based interactive game.

In some embodiments, the application decisions 134 and wager outcomedata 130 are communicated to a wagering user interface generator 144.The wagering user interface generator 144 receives the applicationdecisions 134 and wager outcome data 130 and generates wager telemetrydata 146 describing the state of wagering and credit accumulation andloss for the market based interleaved wagering system. In someembodiments, the wager telemetry data 146 may include, but is notlimited to, amounts of AC and elements earned, lost or accumulated bythe user through use of the interactive application as determined fromthe application decisions, and Cr amounts won, lost or accumulated asdetermined from the wager outcome data 130 and the one or more meters110.

In some embodiments, the wager outcome data 130 also includes data aboutone or more game states of a gambling game executed in accordance with awagering proposition by the wager controller 102. In various suchembodiments, the wagering user interface generator 144 generates agambling game process display and/or gambling game state display usingthe one or more game states of the gambling game. The gambling gameprocess display and/or gambling game state display is included in thewager telemetry data 146 that is communicated to the interactivecontroller 120. The gambling game process display and/or a gambling gamestate display is displayed by the wagering user interface 148 to theuser 140. In other such embodiments, the one or more game states of thegambling game are communicated to the interactive controller 120 and thewagering user interface 148 generates the gambling game process displayand/or gambling game state display using the one or more game states ofthe gambling game for display to the user 140.

The application controller 112 can further operatively connect to thewager controller 102 to determine an amount of credit or elementsavailable and other wagering metrics of a wagering proposition. Thus,the application controller 112 may potentially affect an amount of Cr inplay for participation in the wagering events of a wagering gameprovided by the wager controller 102 in some embodiments. Theapplication controller 112 may additionally include various audit logsand activity meters. In some embodiments, the application controller 112can also couple to a centralized server for exchanging various datarelated to the user and the activities of the user during game play of amarket based interleaved wagering system.

In many embodiments, one or more users can be engaged in using theinteractive application executed by the interactive controller 120. Invarious embodiments, a market based interleaved wagering system caninclude an interactive application that provides a skill-basedinteractive game that includes head-to-head play between a single userand a computing device, between two or more users against one another,or multiple users playing against a computer device and/or each other.In some embodiments, the interactive application can be a skill-basedinteractive game where the user is not skillfully playing against thecomputer or any other user such as skill-based interactive games wherethe user is effectively skillfully playing against himself or herself.

In some embodiments, the operation of the application controller 112does not affect the provision of a wagering proposition by the wagercontroller 102 except for user choice parameters that are allowable inaccordance with the wagering proposition. Examples of user choiceparameters include, but are not limited to: wager terms such as but notlimited to a wager amount; speed of game play (for example, by pressinga button or pulling a handle of a slot machine); and/or agreement towager into a bonus round.

In various embodiments, wager outcome data 130 communicated from thewager controller 102 can also be used to convey a status operation ofthe wager controller 102.

In a number of embodiments, communication of the wager data 129 betweenthe wager controller 102 and the application controller 112 can furtherbe used to communicate various wagering control factors that the wagercontroller 102 uses as input. Examples of wagering control factorsinclude, but are not limited to, an amount of Cr, AC, elements, orobjects consumed per wagering event, and/or the user's election to entera jackpot round.

In some embodiments, the application controller 112 utilizes thewagering user interface 148 to communicate certain interactiveapplication data to the user, including but not limited to, club points,user status, control of the selection of choices, and messages which auser can find useful in order to adjust the interactive applicationexperience or understand the wagering status of the user in accordancewith the wagering proposition in the wager controller 102.

In some embodiments, the application controller 112 utilizes thewagering user interface 148 to communicate aspects of a wageringproposition to the user including, but not limited to, odds of certainwager outcomes, amount of Cr, AC, elements, or objects in play, andamounts of Cr, AC, elements, or objects available.

In a number of embodiments, the wager controller 102 can accept wagerproposition factors including, but not limited to, modifications in theamount of Cr, AC, elements, or objects wagered on each individualwagering event, a number of wagering events per minute the wagercontroller 102 can resolve, entrance into a bonus round, and otherfactors. An example of a varying wager amount that the user can choosecan include, but is not limited to, using a more difficult interactiveapplication level associated with an amount of a wager. These factorscan increase or decrease an amount wagered per individual wageringproposition in the same manner that a standard slot machine player candecide to wager more or less credits for each pull of the handle. Inseveral embodiments, the wager controller 102 can communicate a numberof factors back and forth to the application controller 112, via aninterface, such that an increase/decrease in a wagered amount can berelated to the change in user profile of the user in the interactiveapplication. In this manner, a user can control a wager amount perwagering event in accordance with the wagering proposition with thechange mapping to a parameter or component that is applicable to theinteractive application experience.

In some embodiments, a user management controller 150 is used toauthorize a market based interleaved wagering system gaming session. Theuser management controller receives game session data 152, that mayinclude, but is not limited to, user, interactive controller,application controller and wager controller data from the applicationcontroller 112. The user management controller 150 uses the user,interactive controller, application controller and wager controller datato regulate a market based interleaved wagering system gaming session.In some embodiments, the user management controller may also assertcontrol of a market based interleaved wagering system game session 154.Such control may include, but is not limited to, ending a market basedinterleaved wagering system game session, initiating wagering in amarket based interleaved wagering system game session, ending wageringin a market based interleaved wagering system game session but notending a user's play of the interactive application portion of themarket based interleaved wagering system game, and changing from realcredit wagering in a market based interleaved wagering system to virtualcredit wagering, or vice versa.

Market Based Interleaved Wagering System Controllers

FIGS. 2A, 2B, 2C, and 2D are illustrations of interactive controllers ofa market based interleaved wagering system in accordance with variousembodiments of the invention. An interactive controller, such asinteractive controller 120 of FIG. 1, may be constructed using one ormore processing devices configured to perform the operations of theinteractive controller. An interactive controller may be constructedfrom an electronic gaming machine 200 as shown in FIG. 2A. Theelectronic gaming machine 200 may be physically located in various typesof gaming establishments. An interactive controller may be constructedfrom a portable device 202 as shown in FIG. 2B. The portable device 202is a device that may wirelessly connect to a network. Examples ofportable devices include, but are not limited to, a tablet computer, apersonal digital assistant, and a smartphone. An interactive controllermay be constructed from a gaming console 204 as shown in FIG. 2C. Aninteractive controller may be constructed from a personal computer 206as shown in FIG. 2D. Indeed, an interactive controller in a market basedinterleaved wagering system may be constructed from any processingdevice including sufficient processing and communication capabilitiesthat may be configured to perform the processes of an interactivecontroller in accordance with various embodiments of the invention.

Some market based interleaved wagering systems in accordance with manyembodiments of the invention can operate with their components beingnetwork connected or can communicate with other market based interleavedwagering systems. In many embodiments, operations associated withcomponents of a market based interleaved wagering system can beperformed on a single device or across multiple devices. These multipledevices can be constructed using a single server or a plurality ofservers such that a market based interleaved wagering system is executedas a system in a virtualized space such as, but not limited to, where awager controller and an application controller are large scalecentralized servers in the cloud operatively connected to widelydistributed interactive controllers via a wide area network such as theInternet or a local area network. In such embodiments, the components ofa market based interleaved wagering system may communicate using anetworking protocol or other type of device-to-device communicationsprotocol.

In many embodiments, a centralized wager controller is operativelyconnected to, and communicates with, one or more application controllersvia a network. The centralized wager controller can generate wageroutcomes for wagers in accordance with one or more wageringpropositions. The centralized wager controller can execute a number ofsimultaneous or pseudo-simultaneous wagers in order to generate wageroutcomes for a variety of wagering propositions that one or morenetworked market based interleaved wagering systems can use.

In several embodiments, a centralized application controller isoperatively connected to one or more interactive controllers and one ormore wager controllers via a network. The centralized applicationcontroller can perform the functionality of an application controlleracross various market based interleaved wagering systems.

In a variety of embodiments, management of user profile data can beperformed by a user management controller operatively connected to, andcommunicating with, one or more application controllers, wagercontrollers and interactive controllers via a network. A user managementcontroller can manage data related to a user profile. The managed datain the user profile may include, but is not limited to, data concerningcontrolled entities (characters) in interactive application use, userperformance metrics for a type or class of interactive application,interactive application elements acquired by a user; Cr and ACassociated with a particular user, and tournament reservations.

Although a user management controller is discussed as being separatefrom an application controller server, a centralized applicationcontroller server may also perform the functions of a user managementcontroller in some embodiments.

In a number of embodiments, an application controller of a market basedinterleaved wagering system can communicate data to a user managementcontroller. The data communicated by the application controller to theuser management controller may include, but is not limited to, AC and Crused in an interactive application; user profile data; user interactionactivity; profile data for users; synchronization data between a wagercontroller and an interactive application; and data about other aspectsof a market based interleaved wagering system. In several embodiments, auser management controller can communicate user data to an applicationcontroller of a market based interleaved wagering system. The user datamay include, but is not limited to, interactive application title andtype; tournament data; special offers; character or profile setup andsynchronization data between a wagering game and an interactiveapplication; and data about any other aspect of a market basedinterleaved wagering system.

In numerous embodiments, an interactive application server provides ahost for managing head-to-head play operating over a network ofinteractive controllers connected to the interactive application servervia a network. The interactive application server provides anenvironment where users can compete directly with one another andinteract with other users.

Processing devices connected via a network to construct market basedinterleaved wagering systems in accordance with many embodiments of theinvention can communicate with each other to provide services utilizedby a market based interleaved wagering system. In several embodiments, awager controller can communicate with an application controller over anetwork. In some embodiments, the wager controller can communicate withan application controller to communicate any type of data as appropriatefor a specific application. Examples of the data that may becommunicated include, but are not limited to, data used to configure thevarious simultaneous or pseudo simultaneous wager controllers executingin parallel within the wager controller to accomplish market basedinterleaved wagering system functionalities; data used to determinemetrics of wager controller performance such as wagers run and/or wageroutcomes for tracking system performance; data used to perform auditsand/or provide operator reports; and data used to request the results ofa wager outcome for use in one or more function(s) operating within theapplication controller such as, but not limited to, automatic drawingsfor prizes that are a function of interactive controller performance.

In several embodiments, an application controller can communicate withan interactive application server via a network when the interactiveapplication server is also communicating with one or more interactivecontrollers over a network. An application controller can communicatewith an interactive application server to communicate any type of dataas appropriate for a specific application. The data that may becommunicated between an application controller and an interactiveapplication server includes, but is not limited to, the data formanagement of an interactive application server by an applicationcontroller server during a market based interleaved wagering systemtournament. In an example embodiment, an application controller may notbe aware of the relationship of the application controller to the restof a tournament since the actual tournament play may be managed by theinteractive application server. Therefore, management of a market basedinterleaved wagering system can include, but is not limited to tasksincluding, but not limited to, conducting tournaments according tosystem programming that can be coordinated by an operator of the marketbased interleaved wagering system; allowing entry of a particular userinto a tournament; communicating the number of users in a tournament;and the status of the tournament (such as, but not limited to the amountof surviving users, the status of each surviving user within the game,and time remaining on the tournament); communicating the performance ofusers within the tournament; communicating the scores of the varioususers in the tournament; and providing a synchronizing link to connectthe application controllers in a tournament with their respectiveinteractive controllers.

In several embodiments, an application controller can communicate with auser management controller via a network. An application controller cancommunicate with a user management controller to communicate any type ofdata as appropriate for a specific application. Examples of datacommunicated between an application controller and a user managementcontroller include, but are not limited to, data for configuringtournaments according to system programming conducted by an operator ofa market based interleaved wagering system; data for exchange of dataused to link a user's user profile to an ability to participate invarious forms of market based interleaved wagering system use (such asbut not limited to the difficulty of play set by the applicationcontroller server for an interactive application that is a skill-basedinteractive game); data for determining a user's ability to participatein a tournament as a function of a user's characteristics (such as butnot limited to a user's prowess or other metrics used for tournamentscreening); data for configuring application controller and interactivecontroller performance to suit preferences of a user on a particularmarket based interleaved wagering system; and data for determining auser's use and wagering performance for the purposes of marketingintelligence; and data for logging secondary drawing awards, tournamentprizes, Cr and/or AC into the user profile.

In many embodiments, the actual location of where various process areexecuted can be located either on a single device (wager controller,application controller, interactive controller), on servers (wagercontroller, application controller, or interactive application server),or a combination of both devices and servers. In a number ofembodiments, certain functions of a wager controller, applicationcontroller, user management controller and/or interactive applicationserver can operate on a local wager controller, application controllerand/or interactive controller used to construct a market basedinterleaved wagering system being provided locally on a device. In someembodiments, a controller or server can be part of a server systemincluding multiple servers, where applications can be run on one or morephysical devices. Similarly, in particular embodiments, multiple serverscan be combined on a single physical device.

Some market based interleaved wagering systems in accordance with manyembodiments of the invention can be distributed across a network invarious configurations. FIGS. 3A, 3B and 3C are network diagrams ofnetworked market based interleaved wagering systems in accordance withvarious embodiments of the invention. Turning now to FIG. 3A, one ormore interactive controllers of a networked market based interleavedwagering system, such as but not limited to, a mobile or wireless device300, a gaming console 302, a personal computer 304, and an electronicgaming machine 305, are operatively connected with a wager controller306 of a networked market based interleaved wagering system over anetwork 308. Network 308 is communications network that allowsprocessing systems communicate with each other and to share data.Examples of the network 308 can include, but are not limited to, a LocalArea Network (LAN) and a Wide Area Network (WAN). In some embodiments,one or more processes of an interactive controller and an applicationcontroller as described herein are executed on the individualinteractive controllers 300, 302, 304 and 305 while one or moreprocesses of a wager controller as described herein can be executed bythe wager controller 306.

A networked market based interleaved wagering system in accordance withanother embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 3B. Asillustrated, one or more interactive controllers of a networked marketbased interleaved wagering system, such as but not limited to, a mobileor wireless device 310, a gaming console 312, a personal computer 314,and an electronic gaming machine 315, are operatively connected with awager controller server 316 and an application controller 318 over anetwork 320. Network 320 is a communications network that allowsprocessing systems to communicate and share data. Examples of thenetwork 320 can include, but are not limited to, a Local Area Network(LAN) and a Wide Area Network (WAN). In some embodiments, the processesof an interactive controller as described herein are executed on theindividual interactive controllers 310, 312, 314 and 315. One or moreprocesses of a wager controller as described herein are executed by thewager controller 316, and one or more processes of an applicationcontroller as described herein are executed by the applicationcontroller 318.

A networked market based interleaved wagering systems in accordance withstill another embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 3C. Asillustrated, one or more interactive controllers of a networked marketbased interleaved wagering system, such as but not limited to, a mobiledevice 342, a gaming console 344, a personal computer 346, and anelectronic gaming machine 340 are operatively connected with a wagercontroller 348 and an application controller 350, and an interactiveapplication server 352 over a network 354. Network 354 is acommunications network that allows processing systems communicate and toshare data. Examples of the network 354 can include, but are not limitedto, a Local Area Network (LAN) and a Wide Area Network (WAN). In someembodiments, one or more processes of a display and user interface of aninteractive controller as described herein are executed on theindividual interactive controllers 340, 342, 344 and 346. One or moreprocesses of a wager controller as described herein can be executed bythe wager controller server 348. One or more processes of an applicationcontroller as described herein can be executed by the applicationcontroller server 350 and one or more processes of an interactivecontroller excluding the display and user interfaces can be executed bythe interactive application server 352.

In various embodiments, a user management controller may be operativelyconnected to components of a market based interleaved wagering systemvia a network. In other embodiments, a number of other peripheralsystems, such as a user management system, a gaming establishmentmanagement system, a regulatory system, and/or hosting servers are alsooperatively connected with the market based interleaved wagering systemsover a network. Also, other servers can reside outside the bounds of anetwork within a firewall of the operator to provide additional servicesfor network connected market based interleaved wagering systems.

Although various networked market based interleaved wagering systems aredescribed herein, market based interleaved wagering systems can benetworked in any configuration as appropriate to the specification of aspecific application in accordance with embodiments of the invention. Insome embodiments, components of a networked market based interleavedwagering system, such as an application controller, wager controller,interactive controller, or other servers that perform services for anapplication controller, wager controller and/or interactive controller,can be networked in different configurations for a specific networkedmarket based interleaved wagering system application.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are diagrams of a structure of an interactive controllerof a market based interleaved wagering system in accordance with variousembodiments of the invention. An interactive controller may beconstructed from one or more processing devices configured to performthe operations of the interactive controller. In many embodiments, aninteractive controller can be constructed from various types ofprocessing devices including, but not limited to, a mobile device suchas a smartphone or the like, a personal digital assistant, a wirelessdevice such as a tablet computer or the like, an electronic gamingmachine, a personal computer, a gaming console, a set-top box, acomputing device, a controller, or the like.

Referring now to FIG. 4A, an interactive controller 400, suitable foruse as interactive controller 120 of FIG. 1, provides an executionenvironment for an interactive application 402 of a market basedinterleaved wagering system. In several embodiments, an interactivecontroller 400 of a market based interleaved wagering system provides aninteractive application 402 that generates an application user interface404 for interaction with by a user. The interactive application 402generates a user presentation 406 that is presented to the user throughthe application user interface 404. The user presentation 406 mayinclude audio features, visual features or tactile features, or anycombination of these features. The application user interface 404further includes one or more human input devices (HIDs) interfaces thatcommunicate with one or more HIDs (e.g., the input devices 514 of FIG.4b ) that the user can use to interact with the market based interleavedwagering system. The user's interactions 408 are included by theinteractive application 402 in application telemetry data 410 that iscommunicated by interactive controller 400 to various other componentsof a market based interleaved wagering system as described herein. Theinteractive application 402 receives application instructions andresources 412 communicated from various other components of a marketbased interleaved wagering system as described herein.

In some embodiments, various components of the interactive application402 can read data from an application state 414 in order to provide oneor more features of the interactive application. In various embodiments,components of the interactive application 402 can include, but are notlimited to, a physics engine, a rules engine, and/or a graphics engine.The physics engine is used to simulate physical interactions betweenvirtual objects in the interactive application 402. The rules engineimplements the rules of the interactive application and a P/RNG that maybe used for influencing or determining certain variables and/or outcomesto provide a randomizing influence on the operations of the interactiveapplication. The graphics engine is used to generate a visualrepresentation of the interactive application state to the user.Furthermore, the components may also include an audio engine to generateaudio outputs for the user interface.

During operation, the interactive application reads and writesapplication resources 416 stored on a data store of the interactivecontroller host. The application resources 416 may include objectshaving graphics and/or control logic used to provide applicationenvironment objects of the interactive application. In variousembodiments, the resources may also include, but are not limited to,video files that are used to generate a portion of the user presentation406; audio files used to generate music, sound effects, etc. within theinteractive application; configuration files used to configure thefeatures of the interactive application; scripts or other types ofcontrol code used to provide various features of the interactiveapplication; and graphics resources such as textures, objects, etc. thatare used by a graphics engine to render objects displayed in aninteractive application.

In operation, components of the interactive application 402 readportions of the application state 414 and generate the user presentation406 for the user that is presented to the user using the user interface404. The user perceives the user presentation and provides userinteractions 408 using the HIDs. The corresponding user interactions arereceived as user actions or inputs by various components of theinteractive application 402. The interactive application 402 translatesthe user actions into interactions with the virtual objects of theapplication environment stored in the application state 414. Componentsof the interactive application use the user interactions with thevirtual objects of the interactive application and the interactiveapplication state 414 to update the application state 414 and update theuser presentation 406 presented to the user. The process loopscontinuously while the user interacts with the interactive applicationof the market based interleaved wagering system.

The interactive controller 400 provides one or more interfaces 418between the interactive controller 400 and other components of a marketbased interleaved wagering system, such as, but not limited to, anapplication controller. The interactive controller 400 and the othermarket based interleaved wagering system components communicate witheach other using the interfaces. The interface may be used to passvarious types of data, and to communicate and receive messages, statusdata, commands and the like. In certain embodiments, the interactivecontroller 400 and an application controller communicate applicationinstructions and environment resources 412 and application telemetrydata 410. In some embodiments, the communications include requests bythe application controller that the interactive controller 400 updatethe application state 414 using data provided by the applicationcontroller.

In many embodiments, a communication by an application controllerincludes a request that the interactive controller 400 update one ormore resources 416 using data provided by the application controller. Ina number of embodiments, the interactive controller 400 provides all ora portion of the application state to the application controller. Insome embodiments, the interactive controller 400 may also provide dataabout one or more of the application resources 416 to the applicationcontroller. In some embodiments, the communication includes userinteractions that the interactive controller 400 communicates to theapplication controller. The user interactions may be low level userinteractions with the user interface 404, such as manipulation of a HID,or may be high level interactions with game objects as determined by theinteractive application. The user interactions may also includeresultant actions such as modifications to the application state 414 orgame resources 416 resulting from the user's interactions taken in themarket based interleaved wagering system interactive application. Insome embodiments, user interactions include, but are not limited to,actions taken by entities such as non-player characters (NPC) of theinteractive application that act on behalf of or under the control ofthe user.

In some embodiments, the interactive controller 400 includes a wageringuser interface 420 used to communicate market based interleaved wageringsystem telemetry data 422 to and from the user. The market basedinterleaved wagering system telemetry data 422 from the market basedinterleaved wagering system include, but are not limited to, data usedby the user to configure Cr, AC and element wagers, and data about thewagering game Cr, AC and element wagers such as, but not limited to, Cr,AC and element balances and Cr, AC and element amounts wagered.

In some embodiments, the interactive controller includes one or moresensors 424. Such sensors may include, but are not limited to,physiological sensors that monitor the physiology of the user,environmental sensors that monitor the physical environment of theinteractive controller, accelerometers that monitor changes in motion ofthe interactive controller, and location sensors that monitor thelocation of the interactive controller such as global positioningsensors (GPSs). The interactive controller 400 communicates sensortelemetry data 426 to one or more components of the market basedinterleaved wagering system.

Referring now to FIG. 4B, interactive controller 400 includes a bus 502that provides an interface for one or more processing units 504, randomaccess memory (RAM) 506, read only memory (ROM) 508, machine-readablestorage medium 510, one or more user output devices 512, one or moreuser input devices 514, and one or more communication interface devices516.

The one or more processing units 504 may take many forms, such as, butnot limited to: a central processing unit (CPU); a multi-processor unit(MPU); an ARM processor; a controller; a programmable logic device; orthe like.

In the example embodiment, the one or more processors 504 and the randomaccess memory (RAM) 506 form an interactive controller processing unit599. In some embodiments, the interactive controller processing unitincludes one or more processors operatively connected to one or more ofa RAM, ROM, and machine-readable storage medium; the one or moreprocessors of the interactive controller processing unit receiveinstructions stored by the one or more of a RAM, ROM, andmachine-readable storage medium via a bus; and the one or moreprocessors execute the received instructions. In some embodiments, theinteractive controller processing unit is an ASIC (Application-SpecificIntegrated Circuit). In some embodiments, the interactive controllerprocessing unit is a SoC (System-on-Chip).

Examples of output devices 512 include, but are not limited to, displayscreens; light panels; and/or lighted displays. In accordance withparticular embodiments, the one or more processing units 504 areoperatively connected to audio output devices such as, but not limitedto: speakers; and/or sound amplifiers. In accordance with many of theseembodiments, the one or more processing units 504 are operativelyconnected to tactile output devices like vibrators, and/or manipulators.

Examples of user input devices 514 include, but are not limited to:tactile devices including but not limited to, keyboards, keypads, footpads, touch screens, and/or trackballs; non-contact devices such asaudio input devices; motion sensors and motion capture devices that theinteractive controller can use to receive inputs from a user when theuser interacts with the interactive controller; physiological sensorsthat monitor the physiology of the user; environmental sensors thatmonitor the physical environment of the interactive controller;accelerometers that monitor changes in motion of the interactivecontroller; and location sensors that monitor the location of theinteractive controller such as global positioning sensors.

The one or more communication interface devices 516 provide one or morewired or wireless interfaces for communicating data and commands betweenthe interactive controller 400 and other devices that may be included ina market based interleaved wagering system. Such wired and wirelessinterfaces include, but are not limited to: a Universal Serial Bus (USB)interface; a Bluetooth interface; a Wi-Fi interface; an Ethernetinterface; a Near Field Communication (NFC) interface; a plain oldtelephone system (POTS) interface, a cellular or satellite telephonenetwork interface; and the like.

The machine-readable storage medium 510 stores machine-executableinstructions for various components of the interactive controller, suchas but not limited to: an operating system 518; one or more devicedrivers 522; one or more application programs 520 including but notlimited to an interactive application; and market based interleavedwagering system interactive controller instructions 524 for use by theone or more processing units 504 to provide the features of aninteractive controller as described herein. In some embodiments, themachine-executable instructions further include application controllayer/application control interface instructions 526 for use by the oneor more processing units 504 to provide the features of an applicationcontrol layer/application control interface as described herein.

In various embodiments, the machine-readable storage medium 510 is oneof a (or a combination of two or more of) a hard drive, a flash drive, aDVD, a CD, a flash storage, a solid state drive, a ROM, an EEPROM, andthe like.

In operation, the machine-executable instructions are loaded into memory506 from the machine-readable storage medium 510, the ROM 508 or anyother storage location. The respective machine-executable instructionsare accessed by the one or more processing units 504 via the bus 502,and then executed by the one or more processing units 504. Data used bythe one or more processing units 504 are also stored in memory 506, andthe one or more processing units 504 access such data during executionof the machine-executable instructions. Execution of themachine-executable instructions causes the one or more processing units504 to control the interactive controller 400 to provide the features ofa market based interleaved wagering system interactive controller asdescribed herein

Although the interactive controller is described herein as beingconstructed from one or more processing units and instructions storedand executed by hardware components, the interactive controller can beconstructed of only hardware components in accordance with otherembodiments. In addition, although the storage medium 510 is describedas being operatively connected to the one or more processing unitsthrough a bus, those skilled in the art of interactive controllers willunderstand that the storage medium can include removable media such as,but not limited to, a USB memory device, an optical CD ROM, magneticmedia such as tape and disks. In some embodiments, the storage medium510 can be accessed by the one or more processing units 504 through oneof the communication interface devices 516 or over a network.Furthermore, any of the user input devices or user output devices can beoperatively connected to the one or more processing units 504 via one ofthe communication interface devices 516 or over a network.

In some embodiments, the interactive controller 400 can be distributedacross a plurality of different devices. In many such embodiments, aninteractive controller of a market based interleaved wagering systemincludes an interactive application server operatively connected to aninteractive client over a network. The interactive application serverand interactive application client cooperate to provide the features ofan interactive controller as described herein.

In various embodiments, the interactive controller 400 may be used toconstruct other components of a market based interleaved wagering systemas described herein.

In some embodiments, components of an interactive controller and anapplication controller of a market based wagering interleaved system maybe constructed from a single device using processes that communicateusing an interprocess communication protocol. In other such embodiments,the components of an interactive controller and an applicationcontroller of a market based wagering interleaved system may communicateby passing messages, parameters or the like.

In some embodiments, components of an interactive controller, anapplication controller and a wager controller of a market based wageringinterleaved system may be constructed using a single device usingprocesses that communicate using an interprocess communication protocol.In other such embodiments, the components of an interactive controller,an application controller and a wager controller of a market basedwagering interleaved system may communicate by passing messages,parameters or the like.

FIGS. 5A and 5B are diagrams of a structure of a wager controller of amarket based interleaved wagering system in accordance with variousembodiments of the invention. A wager controller may be constructed fromone or more processing devices configured to perform the operations ofthe wager controller. In many embodiments, a wager controller can beconstructed from various types of processing devices including, but notlimited to, a mobile device such as a smartphone or the like, a personaldigital assistant, a wireless device such as a tablet computer or thelike, an electronic gaming machine, a personal computer, a gamingconsole, a set-top box, a computing device, a controller, or the like.

Referring now to FIG. 5A, in various embodiments, a wager controller604, suitable for use as wager controller 102 of FIG. 1, includes apseudorandom or random number generator (P/RNG) 620 to produce randomresults or pseudo random results; one or more paytables 623 whichincludes a plurality of factors indexed by the random result to bemultiplied with an amount of Cr, AC, elements, or objects committed in awager; and a wagering control module 622 whose processes may include,but are not limited to, generating random results, looking up factors inthe paytables, multiplying the factors by an amount of Cr, AC, elements,or objects wagered, and administering one or more Cr, AC, element, orobject meters 626. The various wager controller components can interfacewith each other via an internal bus 625 and/or other appropriatecommunication mechanism.

An interface 628 allows the wager controller 604 to operatively connectto an external device, such as one or more application controllers asdescribed herein. The interface 628 provides for receiving of wager data629 from the external device that is used to specify wager parametersand/or trigger execution of a wager by the wager controller 604. Theinterface 628 may also provide for communicating wager outcome data 631to an external device. In numerous embodiments, the interface betweenthe wager controller 604 and other systems/devices may be a wide areanetwork (WAN) such as the Internet. However, other methods ofcommunication may be used including, but not limited to, a local areanetwork (LAN), a universal serial bus (USB) interface, and/or some othermethod by which two electronic devices could communicate with eachother.

In various embodiments, a wager controller 604 may use a P/RNG providedby an external system. The external system may be connected to the wagercontroller 604 by a suitable communication network such as a local areanetwork (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN). In some embodiments, theexternal P/RNG is a central deterministic system that provides random orpseudo random results to one or more connected wager controllers.

During operation of the wager controller, the external systemcommunicates wager data 629 to the wager controller 604. The wagercontroller 604 receives the wager data and uses the wager data totrigger execution of a wager in accordance with a wagering proposition.The wager controller 604 executes the wager and determines a wageroutcome for the wager. The wager controller communicates wager outcomedata 631 of the wager outcome to the external system.

In some embodiments, the wager controller uses the wager data to selecta paytable 628 to use and/or an amount of Cr, AC, elements, or objectsto wager.

In some embodiments, the wager outcome data may include, but is notlimited to, an amount of Cr, AC, elements, or objects won in the wager.

In various embodiments, the wager outcome data may include, but is notlimited to, an amount of Cr, AC, elements, or objects in the one or moremeters 626.

In some embodiments, the wager outcome data includes state data for thewagering proposition of the executed wager. The state data maycorrespond to one or more game states of a gambling game that isassociated with the wagering proposition. Examples of state datainclude, but are not limited to, reel strips in an operation state or afinal state for a reel-based gambling game, one or more dice positionsfor a dice-based gambling game, positions of a roulette wheel androulette ball, position of a wheel of fortune, or the like.

In various embodiments, the wagering control module 622 determines anamount of a wager and a paytable to use from the one or more paytables623. In such embodiments, in response to the wager data triggeringexecution of the wager, the wager control module 622 executes the wagerby requesting a P/RNG result from the P/RNG 620; retrieving a paytablefrom the one or more paytables 623; adjusting the one or more creditmeters 626 for an amount of the wager; applying the P/RNG result to theretrieved paytable; multiplying the resultant factor from the paytableby an amount wagered to determine a wager outcome; updating the one ormore meters 626 based on the wager outcome; and communicating the wageroutcome to the external device.

In various embodiments, an external system communicates a request for aP/RNG result from the wager controller 604. In response, the wagercontroller 604 returns a P/RNG result as a function of an internal P/RNGor a P/RNG external to the external system to which the wager controller604 is operatively connected.

In some embodiments, a communication exchange between the wagercontroller 604 and an external system relate to the external systemsupport for coupling a P/RNG result to a particular paytable containedin the wager controller 604. In such an exchange, the external systemcommunicates to the wager controller 604 as to which of the one or morepaytables 623 to use, and requests a result whereby the P/RNG resultwould be associated with the requested paytable 623. The result of thecoupling is returned to the external system. In such an exchange, noactual Cr, AC, element, or object wager is conducted, but might beuseful in coupling certain non-value wagering interactive applicationbehaviors and propositions to the same final resultant wagering returnwhich is understood for the market based interleaved wagering system toconduct wagering.

In some embodiments, the wager controller 604 may also include storagefor statuses, wagers, wager outcomes, meters and other historical eventsin a storage device 616.

In some embodiments, an authorization access module provides a processto permit access and command exchange with the wager controller 604 andaccess to the one or more credit meters 626 for the amount of Cr, AC,elements, or objects being wagered by the user in the market basedinterleaved wagering system.

In numerous embodiments, communication occurs between various types of awager controller and an external system 630, such as applicationcontroller. In some of these embodiments, the purpose of the wagercontroller is to allocate wagers to pools, detect occurrences of one ormore events upon which the wagers were made, and determine the wageroutcomes for each individual wager based on the number of winning wagersand the amount paid into the pool.

In some embodiments, the wager controller manages accounts forindividual users wherein the users make deposits into the accounts,amounts are deducted from the accounts, and amounts are credited to theusers' accounts based on the wager outcomes.

In some embodiments a wager controller is a pari-mutuel wagering systemsuch as used for wagering on an events such as horse races, greyhoundraces, sporting events and the like. In a pari-mutuel wagering system,user's wagers on the outcome of an event are allocated to a pool. Whenthe event occurs, wager outcomes are calculated by sharing the poolamong all winning wagers.

In various embodiments, a wager controller is a central determinationsystem, such as but not limited to a central determination system for aClass II wagering system or a wagering system in support of a “scratchoff” style lottery. In such a wagering system, a player plays againstother players and competes for a common prize. In a given set of wageroutcomes, there are a certain number of wins and losses. Once a certainwager outcome has been determined, the same wager outcome cannot occuragain until a new set of wager outcomes is generated.

In numerous embodiments, communication occurs between various componentsof a wager controller 604 and an external system, such as an applicationcontroller. In some of these embodiments, the purpose of the wagercontroller 604 is to manage wagering on wagering events and to providerandom (or pseudo random) results from a P/RNG.

Referring now to FIG. 5B, wager controller 604 includes a bus 732 thatprovides an interface for one or more processing units 734, randomaccess memory (RAM) 736, read only memory (ROM) 738, machine-readablestorage medium 740, one or more user output devices 742, one or moreuser input devices 744, and one or more network interface devices 746.

The one or more processors 734 may take many forms, such as, but notlimited to, a central processing unit (CPU), a multi-processor unit(MPU), an ARM processor, a controller, a programmable logic device, orthe like.

In the example embodiment, the one or more processors 734 and the randomaccess memory (RAM) 736 form a wager controller processing unit 799. Insome embodiments, the wager controller processing unit includes one ormore processors operatively connected to one or more of a RAM, ROM, andmachine-readable storage medium; the one or more processors of the wagercontroller processing unit receive instructions stored by the one ormore of a RAM, ROM, and machine-readable storage medium via a bus; andthe one or more processors execute the received instructions. In someembodiments, the wager controller processing unit is an ASIC(Application-Specific Integrated Circuit). In some embodiments, thewager controller processing unit is a SoC (System-on-Chip).

Examples of output devices 742 include, but are not limited to, displayscreens, light panels, and/or lighted displays. In accordance withparticular embodiments, the one or more processing units 734 areoperatively connected to audio output devices such as, but not limitedto speakers, and/or sound amplifiers. In accordance with many of theseembodiments, the one or more processing units 734 are operativelyconnected to tactile output devices like vibrators, and/or manipulators.

Examples of user input devices 734 include, but are not limited to,tactile devices including but not limited to, keyboards, keypads, touchscreens, and/or trackballs; non-contact devices such as audio inputdevices; motion sensors and motion capture devices that the wagercontroller can use to receive inputs from a user when the user interactswith the wager controller 604.

The one or more network interface devices 746 provide one or more wiredor wireless interfaces for exchanging data and commands between thewager controller 604 and other devices that may be included in a marketbased interleaved wagering system. Such wired and wireless interfacesinclude, but are not limited to: a Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface;a Bluetooth interface; a Wi-Fi interface; an Ethernet interface; a NearField Communication (NFC) interface; a plain old telephone system (POTS)interface; a cellular or satellite telephone network interface; and thelike.

The machine-readable storage medium 740 stores machine-executableinstructions for various components of a wager controller, such as butnot limited to: an operating system 748; one or more applicationprograms 750; one or more device drivers 752; and market basedinterleaved wagering system wager controller instructions 754 for use bythe one or more processing units 734 to provide the features of a marketbased interleaved wagering system wager controller as described herein.

In various embodiments, the machine-readable storage medium 740 is oneof a (or a combination of two or more of) a hard drive, a flash drive, aDVD, a CD, a flash storage, a solid state drive, a ROM, an EEPROM, andthe like.

In operation, the machine-executable instructions are loaded into memory736 from the machine-readable storage medium 740, the ROM 738 or anyother storage location. The respective machine-executable instructionsare accessed by the one or more processing units 734 via the bus 732,and then executed by the one or more processing units 734. Data used bythe one or more processing units 734 are also stored in memory 736, andthe one or more processing units 734 access such data during executionof the machine-executable instructions. Execution of themachine-executable instructions causes the one or more processing units734 to control the wager controller 604 to provide the features of amarket based interleaved wagering system wager controller as describedherein

Although the wager controller 604 is described herein as beingconstructed from one or more processing units and machine-executableinstructions stored and executed by hardware components, the wagercontroller can be composed of only hardware components in accordancewith other embodiments. In addition, although the storage medium 740 isdescribed as being operatively connected to the one or more processingunits through a bus, those skilled in the art of processing devices willunderstand that the storage medium can include removable media such as,but not limited to, a USB memory device, an optical CD ROM, magneticmedia such as tape and disks. In some embodiments, the storage medium740 can be accessed by the one or more processing units 734 through oneof the interfaces or over a network. Furthermore, any of the user inputdevices or user output devices can be operatively connected to the oneor more processing units 734 via one of the interfaces or over anetwork.

In various embodiments, the wager controller 604 may be used toconstruct other components of a market based interleaved wagering systemas described herein.

In some embodiments, components of a wager controller and an applicationcontroller of a market based wagering interleaved system may beconstructed from a single device using processes that communicate usingan interprocess communication protocol. In other such embodiments, thecomponents of a wager controller and an application controller of amarket based wagering interleaved system may communicate by passingmessages, parameters or the like.

It should be understood that there may be many embodiments of a wagercontroller 604 which could be possible, including forms where manymodules and components of the wager controller are located in variousservers and locations, so the foregoing is not meant to be exhaustive orall inclusive, but rather provide data on various embodiments of a wagercontroller 604.

FIGS. 6A and 6B are diagrams of a structure of an application controllerof a market based interleaved wagering system in accordance with variousembodiments of the invention. An application controller may beconstructed from one or more processing devices configured to performthe operations of the application controller. In many embodiments, anapplication controller can be constructed from various types ofprocessing devices including, but not limited to, a mobile device suchas a smartphone, a personal digital assistant, a wireless device such asa tablet computer or the like, an electronic gaming machine, a personalcomputer, a gaming console, a set-top box, a computing device, acontroller, or the like.

Referring now to FIG. 6A, in many embodiments, an application controller860, suitable for use as application controller 112 of FIG. 1, managesoperation of a market based interleaved wagering system, with a wagercontroller and an interactive controller being support units to theapplication controller 860. The application controller 860 provides aninterface between the interactive application, provided by aninteractive controller, and a wagering proposition, provided by a wagercontroller.

In some embodiments, the application controller 860 includes aninteractive controller interface 800 to an interactive controller. Theinteractive controller interface 800 provides for communication of databetween an interactive controller and the application controller 860,including but not limited to wager telemetry data 802, applicationinstructions and resources 804, application telemetry data 806, andsensor telemetry data 810.

In various embodiments, the application controller 860 includes a wagercontroller interface 812 to a wager controller. The wager controllerinterface 812 provides for communication of data between the applicationcontroller 860 and a wager controller, including but not limited towager outcomes 814 and wager data 816.

In some embodiments, the application controller 860 includes a usermanagement controller interface 818 to a user management controller. Theuser management controller interface 818 provides for communication ofdata between the application controller 860 and a user managementcontroller, including but not limited to session control data 820 andsession telemetry data 822.

The application controller 860 includes a business rule decision engine824 that receives telemetry data, such as application telemetry data andsensor telemetry data, from an interactive controller. The business ruledecision engine 824 uses the telemetry data, along with trigger logic826 to generate wager data used to trigger a wager in a wagercontroller.

In some embodiments, the application telemetry data includes, but is notlimited to, application environment variables that indicate the state ofan interactive application being used by a user, interactive controllerdata indicating a state of an interactive controller, and user actionsand interactions between a user and an interactive application providedby an interactive controller. The wagering and/or wager data mayinclude, but is not limited to, an amount and type of the wager, atrigger of the wager, and a selection of a paytable to be used whenexecuting the wager.

In some embodiments, the business rule decision engine 824 also receiveswager outcome data from a wager controller. The decision engine 824 usesthe wager outcome data, in conjunction with telemetry data andapplication logic 828 to generate application decisions 830 communicatedto an application resource generator 832. The application resourcegenerator 832 receives the application decisions and uses theapplication decisions to generate application instructions andapplication resources to be communicated to an interactive application.

In many embodiments, the application controller 860 includes a pseudorandom or random result generator used to generate random results thatare communicated to the application resource generator 832. Theapplication resource generator uses the random results to generateapplication instructions and application resources to be communicated toan interactive controller for use by an interactive application.

In various embodiments, the business rule decision engine 824 alsodetermines an amount of AC to award to a user based at least in part onthe user's use of an interactive application of the market basedinterleaved wagering system as determined from application telemetrydata. In some embodiments, wager outcome data may also be used todetermine the amount of AC that should be awarded to the user.

In numerous embodiments, an interactive application is a skill-basedinteractive game and the AC is awarded to the user for the user'sskillful play of the skill-based interactive game.

In some embodiments, the application decisions and wager outcome dataare communicated to a wagering user interface generator 834. Thewagering user interface generator 834 receives the application decisionsand wager outcome data and generates wager telemetry data describing thestate of wagering and credit accumulation and loss for the market basedinterleaved wagering system. In some embodiments, the wager telemetrydata 146 may include, but is not limited to, amounts of AC and elementsearned, lost or accumulated by the user through use of the interactiveapplication as determined from the application decisions, and Cr amountswon, lost or accumulated as determined from the wager outcome data andthe one or more credit meters.

In some embodiments, the wager outcome data 814 also includes data aboutone or more game states of a gambling game executed in accordance with awagering proposition by a wager controller. In various such embodiments,the wagering user interface generator 834 generates a gambling gameprocess display and/or gambling game state display using the one or moregame states of the gambling game. The gambling game process displayand/or gambling game state display is included in wager telemetry datathat is communicated to an interactive controller. The gambling gameprocess display and/or a gambling game state display is displayed by awagering user interface of the interactive controller to a user. Inother such embodiments, the one or more game states of the gambling gameare communicated to an interactive controller and a wagering userinterface of the interactive controller generates a gambling gameprocess display and/or gambling game state display using the one or moregame states of the gambling game for display to a user.

The application controller 860 can further operatively connect to awager controller to determine an amount of credit or elements availableand other wagering metrics of a wagering proposition. Thus, theapplication controller 860 may potentially affect an amount of Cr inplay for participation in the wagering events of a wagering gameprovided by the wager controller. The application controller 860 mayadditionally include various audit logs and activity meters. In someembodiments, the application controller 860 can also couple to acentralized server for exchanging various data related to the user andthe activities of the user during game play of a market basedinterleaved wagering system.

In some embodiments, the operation of the application controller 860does not affect the provision of a wagering proposition by a wagercontroller except for user choice parameters that are allowable inaccordance with the wagering proposition. Examples of user choiceparameters include, but are not limited to: wager terms such as but notlimited to a wager amount; speed of game play (for example, by pressinga button or pulling a handle of a slot machine); and/or agreement towager into a bonus round.

In a number of embodiments, communication of wager data between a wagercontroller and the application controller 860 can further be used tocommunicate various wagering control factors that the wager controlleruses as input. Examples of wagering control factors include, but are notlimited to, an amount of Cr, AC, elements, or objects consumed perwagering event, and/or the user's election to enter a jackpot round.

In some embodiments, the application controller 860 utilizes a wageringuser interface to communicate certain interactive application data tothe user, including but not limited to, club points, user status,control of the selection of user choices, and messages which a user canfind useful in order to adjust the interactive application experience orunderstand the wagering status of the user in accordance with thewagering proposition in the wager controller.

In some embodiments, the application controller 860 utilizes a wageringuser interface to communicate aspects of a wagering proposition to theuser including, but not limited to, odds of certain wager outcomes,amount of Cr, AC, elements, or objects in play, and amounts of Cr, AC,elements, or objects available.

In a number of embodiments, a wager controller can accept wagerproposition factors including, but not limited to, modifications in theamount of Cr, AC, elements, or objects wagered on each individualwagering event, a number of wagering events per minute the wagercontroller can resolve, entrance into a bonus round, and other factors.In several embodiments, the application controller 860 can communicate anumber of factors back and forth to the wager controller, such that anincrease/decrease in a wagered amount can be related to the change inuser profile of the user in the interactive application. In this manner,a user can control a wager amount per wagering event in accordance withthe wagering proposition with the change mapping to a parameter orcomponent that is applicable to the interactive application experience.

Referring now to FIG. 6B, application controller 860 includes a bus 862providing an interface for one or more processing units 864, randomaccess memory (RAM) 866, read only memory (ROM) 868, machine-readablestorage medium 870, one or more user output devices 872, one or moreuser input devices 874, and one or more network interface devices 876.

The one or more processors 864 may take many forms, such as, but notlimited to: a central processing unit (CPU); a multi-processor unit(MPU); an ARM processor; a programmable logic device; or the like.

Examples of output devices 872 include, include, but are not limited to:display screens; light panels; and/or lighted displays. In accordancewith particular embodiments, the one or more processing units 864 areoperatively connected to audio output devices such as, but not limitedto: speakers; and/or sound amplifiers. In accordance with many of theseembodiments, the one or more processing units 864 are operativelyconnected to tactile output devices like vibrators, and/or manipulators.

In the example embodiment, the one or more processors 864 and the randomaccess memory (RAM) 866 form an application controller processing unit899. In some embodiments, the application controller processing unitincludes one or more processors operatively connected to one or more ofa RAM, ROM, and machine-readable storage medium; the one or moreprocessors of the application controller processing unit receiveinstructions stored by the one or more of a RAM, ROM, andmachine-readable storage medium via a bus; and the one or moreprocessors execute the received instructions. In some embodiments, theapplication controller processing unit is an ASIC (Application-SpecificIntegrated Circuit). In some embodiments, the application controllerprocessing unit is a SoC (System-on-Chip).

Examples of user input devices 874 include, but are not limited to:tactile devices including but not limited to, keyboards, keypads, footpads, touch screens, and/or trackballs; non-contact devices such asaudio input devices; motion sensors and motion capture devices that theapplication controller can use to receive inputs from a user when theuser interacts with the application controller 860.

The one or more network interface devices 876 provide one or more wiredor wireless interfaces for exchanging data and commands between theapplication controller 860 and other devices that may be included in amarket based interleaved wagering system. Such wired and wirelessinterfaces include, but are not limited to: a Universal Serial Bus (USB)interface; a Bluetooth interface; a Wi-Fi interface; an Ethernetinterface; a Near Field Communication (NFC) interface; a plain oldtelephone system (POTS), cellular, or satellite telephone networkinterface; and the like.

The machine-readable storage medium 870 stores machine-executableinstructions for various components of the application controller 860such as, but not limited to: an operating system 878; one or moreapplications 880; one or more device drivers 882; and market basedinterleaved wagering system wager controller instructions 854 for use bythe one or more processing units 864 to provide the features of a wagercontroller as described herein.

In various embodiments, the machine-readable storage medium 870 is oneof a (or a combination of two or more of) a hard drive, a flash drive, aDVD, a CD, a flash storage, a solid state drive, a ROM, an EEPROM, andthe like.

In operation, the machine-executable instructions are loaded into memory866 from the machine-readable storage medium 870, the ROM 868 or anyother storage location. The respective machine-executable instructionsare accessed by the one or more processing units 864 via the bus 862,and then executed by the one or more processing units 864. Data used bythe one or more processing units 864 are also stored in memory 866, andthe one or more processing units 864 access such data during executionof the machine-executable instructions. Execution of themachine-executable instructions causes the one or more processing units864 to control the application controller 860 to provide the features ofa market based interleaved wagering system application controller asdescribed herein.

Although the application controller 860 is described herein as beingconstructed from one or more processing units and instructions storedand executed by hardware components, the application controller can becomposed of only hardware components in accordance with otherembodiments. In addition, although the storage medium 870 is describedas being operatively connected to the one or more processing unitsthrough a bus, those skilled in the art of application controllers willunderstand that the storage medium can include removable media such as,but not limited to, a USB memory device, an optical CD ROM, magneticmedia such as tape and disks. Also, the storage medium 870 can beaccessed by processor 864 through one of the interfaces or over anetwork. Furthermore, any of the user input devices or user outputdevices can be operatively connected to the one or more processing units864 via one of the interfaces or over a network.

In various embodiments, the application controller 860 may be used toconstruct other components of a market based interleaved wagering systemas described herein.

In some embodiments, components of wager controller and an applicationcontroller of a market based wagering interleaved system may beconstructed using a single device using processes that communicate usingan interprocess communication protocol. In other such embodiments, thecomponents of a wager controller and an application controller of amarket based wagering interleaved system may communicate by passingmessages, parameters or the like.

In numerous embodiments, any of a wager controller, an applicationcontroller, or an interactive controller as described herein can beconstructed using multiple processing devices, whether dedicated,shared, or distributed in any combination thereof, or can be constructedusing a single processing device. In addition, while certain aspects andfeatures of market based interleaved wagering system processes describedherein have been attributed to a wager controller, an applicationcontroller, or an interactive controller, these aspects and features canbe provided in a distributed form where any of the features or aspectscan be provided by any of a wager controller, an application controller,and/or an interactive controller within a market based interleavedwagering system without deviating from the spirit of the invention.

Although various components of market based interleaved wagering systemsare discussed herein, market based interleaved wagering systems can beconfigured with any component as appropriate to the specification of aspecific application in accordance with embodiments of the invention. Incertain embodiments, components of a market based interleaved wageringsystem, such as an application controller, a wager controller, and/or aninteractive controller, can be configured in different ways for aspecific market based interleaved wagering system.

Operation of Market Based Wagering Interleaved Systems

FIG. 7 is a sequence diagram of interactions between components of amarket based interleaved wagering system in accordance with variousembodiments of the invention. The components of the market basedinterleaved wagering system include a wager controller 902, such aswager controller 102 of FIG. 1, an application controller 904, such asapplication controller 112 of FIG. 1, and an interactive controller 906,such as interactive controller 120 of FIG. 1. The process begins withthe interactive controller 906 detecting a user performing a userinteraction in a user interface of an interactive application providedby the interactive controller 906. The interactive controller 906communicates application telemetry data 908 to the applicationcontroller 904. The application telemetry data includes, but is notlimited to, the user interaction detected by the interactive controller906.

The application controller 904 receives the application telemetry data908. Upon determination by the application controller 904 that the userinteraction indicates a wagering event, the application controller 904communicates wager data 912 including a wager request to the wagercontroller 902. The request for a wager event may include wager termsassociated with a wagering proposition.

The wager controller receives the wager data and uses the wager data toexecute (913) a wager in accordance with a wagering proposition. Thewager controller 902 communicates a wager outcome 914 of the executedwager to the application controller 904.

The application controller 904 receives the wager outcome and determines(915) interactive application instructions and resources 916 for theinteractive application. The application controller 904 communicates theinteractive application instructions and resources 916 to theinteractive controller 906. The application controller also communicateswagering telemetry data 920 including the wager outcome to theinteractive controller 906.

The interactive controller 906 receives the interactive applicationinstructions and resources 916 and wagering telemetry data 918. Theinteractive controller 906 incorporates the received interactiveapplication resources and executes the received interactive applicationinstructions (918). The interactive controller updates (922) anapplication user interface of the interactive application provided bythe interactive controller using the interactive applicationinstructions and the resources, and updates (922) a wagering userinterface using the wagering telemetry data.

In several embodiments, a user can interact with a market basedinterleaved wagering system by using Cr for wagering in accordance witha wagering proposition along with AC and elements in interactions withan interactive application. Wagering can be executed by a wagercontroller while an interactive application can be executed by aninteractive controller and managed with an application controller.

FIG. 8 is a collaboration diagram that illustrates how resources such asAC, Cr, elements, and objects are utilized in a market based interleavedwagering system in accordance with various embodiments of the invention.The collaboration diagram 1000 illustrates that Cr 1002, interactiveapplication resources including elements and objects 1004 and AC 1006can be utilized by a user 1008 in interactions with a wager controller1010, such as wager controller 102 of FIG. 1, an application controller1012, such as wager controller 112 of FIG. 1, and an interactivecontroller 1014, such as interactive controller 120 of FIG. 1, of amarket based interleaved wagering system. The contribution of elementsand objects such as included in resources 1004, can be linked to auser's access to credits, such as Cr 1002 and/or AC 1006. Electronicreceipt of these credits can come via a smart card, voucher or otherportable media, or as received over a network from a server. In someembodiments, these credits can be drawn on demand from a user profilelocated in a database locally on a market based interleaved wageringsystem or in a remote server.

A user's actions and/or decisions can affect an interactive applicationof interactive controller 1014 that consume and/or accumulate AC 1004and/or resources 1004 in an interactive application executed by aninteractive controller 1014, a wager controller 101 and an applicationcontroller 1012. The application controller 1012 can monitor theactivities taking place within an interactive application executed by aninteractive controller 1014 for wagering event occurrences. Theapplication controller 1012 can also communicate the wagering eventoccurrences to the wager controller 1010 that triggers a wager of Cr1002 in accordance with a wagering proposition executed by the wagercontroller 1010.

In several embodiments, the user commences interaction with the marketbased interleaved wagering system by contributing credit to a marketbased interleaved wagering system such as, but not limited to, Cr 1002that may be credit in a real currency or may be credit in a virtualcurrency that is not fungible with a real currency, AC 1006 that may beapplication environment credits, and specified types of interactiveapplication elements and/or objects 1004. One or more of thesecontributions may be provided directly as currency and/or transferred inelectronically. Electronic transfer may come via a smart card, voucheror other portable media, or as transferred in over a network from a userdata server or market based interleaved wagering system user managementcontroller. In many embodiments, contributions may be drawn on demandfrom user accounts located in servers residing on the network or in thecloud on a real time basis as the credits, elements and/or object arecommitted or consumed by the market based interleaved wagering system.Generally, Cr is utilized and accounted for by the wager controller1010; and the resources 1004 and AC 1006 are utilized and accounted forby the application controller 1012 and/or the interactive controller1014. The user interacts (a) with an interactive application provided bythe interactive controller 1014 with the interaction representing anaction by the user within the context of the interactive application.The interactive controller 1014 receives the user interaction andcommunicates (b) the interaction to the application controller 1012. Theapplication controller 1012 receives the interaction and determines fromthe interaction whether or not a wager should be triggered. If a wagershould be triggered, the application controller 1012 communicates (c)wager data about a wager in accordance with a wagering propositionassociated with the interaction and thereby triggers a wager. The wagercontroller receives the wager data and executes the wager in accordancewith the wagering proposition, and consumes (d) an appropriate amount ofCr 1002 for the wager. The wager controller 1010 adjusts (e) the Cr 1002based upon a wager outcome of the wager and communicates (f) the wageroutcome to the application controller 1012 as to the outcome of thewager triggered by the application controller 1012. The applicationcontroller 1012 receives the wager outcome. The application controllerdetermines what resources 1004 should be provided to the interactivecontroller and communicates (g) the resources 1004 to the interactivecontroller. The interactive controller receives the resources from theapplication control and integrates them into the execution of theinteractive application provided by the interactive controller 1014.

In some embodiments, the application controller 1012 communicates (h)data about the wager outcome to the interactive controller. Theinteractive controller receives the wager outcome and displays the wageroutcome to the user 1008.

In some embodiments, the application controller 1012 determines whatresources and instructions to provide to the interactive controller 1014for use by the interactive application provided by the interactivecontroller 1014 partially on the basis of the wager outcome. In somesuch embodiments, resources are provided in a case that the wager was awinning wager for the user. In other such embodiments, fewer or noresources are provided in a case of a losing wager.

In some embodiments, the application controller 1012 determines whatresources to provide based on internal logic of the applicationcontroller 1012. In some such embodiments, the application controller1012 employs a random result generator, such as a P/RNG, to generate arandom result and the random result is used to determine what resourcesare provided to the interactive controller 1014.

In several embodiments, the application controller 1012 determines anincrement or a decrement of an amount of AC 1006 using the interactionsreceived from the interactive controller. The increment or decrementedamount is communicated (i) to the interactive controller for display tothe user.

In some embodiments, the application controller 1012 executes a wager ofCr as a virtual currency, AC, elements or objects. In some suchembodiments, the application controller 1012 employs a random resultgenerator, such as a P/RNG, to generate a random result and the randomresult is used to determine a wager outcome in Cr as a virtual currency,AC, elements or objects.

The following is description of an embodiment of the describedcollaboration where an interactive application provided by aninteractive controller of a market based interleaved wagering system isa first person shooter game. The process begins by a user selecting amachine gun to use in the game and then fires a burst of bullets at anopponent. The interactive controller can communicate to the applicationcontroller of the user's choice of weapon, that a burst of bullets wasfired, and/or the outcome of the burst. The application controllercommunicates to the wager controller that 3 credits (Cr) are to bewagered on the outcome of a wagering event to match the three bulletsconsumed. The wager controller then performs the wagering event anddetermines the result of the wager and may determine the winnings from apaytable. The wager controller consumes 3 credits of Cr for the wagerand executes the specified wager. By way of example, the wagercontroller may determine that the user hit a jackpot of 6 credits andreturns the 6 credits to the Cr and communicates to the applicationcontroller that 3 net credits were won by the user.

The application controller communicates to the interactive controller toadd 3 bullets to an ammunition clip. The interactive controller adds 3bullets back to the ammo clip. The ammunition may be added by directlyadding the ammunition to the clip or by allowing the user to find extraammunition during use. The application controller logs the new userscore (AC) in the game (as a function of the successful hit on theopponent) based on the interactive controller communication, and adds 2extra points to the user score since a jackpot has been won. Theapplication controller then adds 10 points to the user score (AC) giventhe success of the hit which in this example is worth 8 points, plus the2 extra point. Note that this example is only intended to provide anillustration of how credits flow in a market based interleaved wageringsystem, but is not intended to be exhaustive and only lists only one ofnumerous possibilities of how a market based interleaved wagering systemmay be configured to manage its fundamental credits.

In many embodiments, user management controller 1020, such as usermanagement controller 150 of FIG. 1, of a market based interleavedwagering system is used to store AC for use of the user. In such anembodiment, AC is generated by the application controller based on theuser's use of the market based interleaved wagering system and an amountof the AC is communicated to the user management controller 1020. Theuser management controller stores the amount of AC between sessions. Insome embodiments, the user management controller communicates an amountof AC to the application controller at the start of a session for use bythe user during a session.

FIG. 9 is a diagram of interactions between various components of thesystem and processes in accordance with various embodiments of theinvention. The market based interleaved wagering system includes aninteractive application, as described herein. In some embodiments, theinteractive application is an interactive game. In some embodiments, theinteractive game is a skill-based interactive game. In some embodiments,the interactive game is a chance-based interactive game.

In some embodiments, the interactive game is a stock market simulationgame. In the stock market simulation game, the user may be provided witha number of application generated stocks, which may be purchased by theuser with credits, such as application credits or real world credits. Inan example embodiment, the interactive application may generate anynumber of different fictitious stocks. Each stock may have an identifierand a value associated with the stock. The user may exchange credits forshares of the available application generated stock (1102). In someembodiments, the user communicates the selection of stock to theinteractive controller. Accordingly, the interactive controller receivesthe selection of stock from the user.

The application generated stock is not directly based on a real existingstock or the value of publicly available securities, when theapplication generated stock is the basis for awarding real worldcredits. That is, a particular application generated stock is notdirectly associated with a particular real existing stock, such thatwhen a user purchases shares of the particular application generatedstock with real world credits, the user is effectively receiving a realworld credit benefit based on the performance of the real, existingstock. However, the value of the application generated stock may bebased on real existing stock in that data associated with real existingstock may be used to create a simulation of the fluctuation of value ofthe application generated stock. As described herein, the dataassociated with real existing stock is processed in such a way that thedata is effectively used a random value generation.

Upon the selection of application generated stock, a stock database 1104is accessed. The stock database 1104 may be accessed by an applicationcontroller or a wager controller. The application controller or wagercontroller may communicate a request for stock information from thestock database 1104 and the stock database may receive the request forstock information from the application controller or the wagercontroller. The stock database 1104 may communicate stock information tothe application controller or the wager controller, and the applicationcontroller or the wager controller may receive the stock informationfrom the stock database 1104.

The stock database 1104 includes data regarding application generatedstock, including identification and values for the stock over time. Thestock database 1104 may also include values and identifications of realexisting stock. In some embodiments, the identifications of the realexisting stock may not be stored in order to anonymize the stock. Insome embodiments, data associated with a real existing stock may beassociated with a category, in order to associate the data with anindustry, and the identification of the company may not be stored.

Using the identification of the application generated stock provided bythe user and stock information received from the stock database 1104,stock characteristics are determined (1106). Stock characteristics arethe aggregation of stock data. In some embodiments, the stockcharacteristics include the stock information associated with a realexisting stock, and the real existing stock is associated with theidentified application generated stock. In an example embodiment, realexisting Stock A may be associated with application generated Stock X.Based on receiving an identification of Stock X, the stock informationfor real existing Stock A, including stock value information, over atime period T may be obtained from the stock database 1104. Parameterssuch as time frame, type of financial instrument, and volatility may beprovided to the stock database 1104 and used in generating stockcharacteristics. In some embodiments, the application controller orwager controller determines the stock characteristics. In order toretrieve the stock data from the stock database 1104, the applicationcontroller or the wager controller communicates a request for stockinformation to the stock database 1104. The stock database 1104 receivesthe request for the stock information from the application controller orthe wager controller. The stock database 1104 retrieves the stockinformation and communicates the retrieved stock information to theapplication controller or the wager controller. The applicationcontroller or the wager controller receives the stock information fromthe stock database 1104.

In some embodiments, the stock characteristics include the stockinformation associated with more than one existing stock, and the morethan one existing stock is associated with the identified applicationgenerated stock. In an example embodiment, real existing Stock B, StockC, and Stock D may be associated with application generated Stock Y.Based on received an identification of Stock Y, the stock informationfor real existing Stock B and Stock C, including stock valueinformation, over a time period T may be obtained from the stockdatabase 1104. In some embodiments, the application controller or wagercontroller determines the stock characteristics. In order to retrievethe stock data from the stock database 1104, the application controlleror the wager controller communicates a request for stock information tothe stock database 1104. The stock database 1104 receives the requestfor the stock information from the application controller or the wagercontroller. The stock database 1104 retrieves the stock information andcommunicates the retrieved stock information to the applicationcontroller or the wager controller. The application controller or thewager controller receives the stock information from the stock database1104.

When stock data for more than one real existing stock is used, aweighting may be applied to the data points of the different stocks. Inan example embodiment, if application generated stock Y is associatedwith real existing stocks B, C, and D, the data for real existing stocksB, C, and D may be retrieved. Real existing stock B may be weighted moreheavily and real existing stock D may be weighted less heavily. In someembodiments, the weighted values are aggregated and plotted toillustrate the performance of the stocks over time.

Once the data is obtained, a smoothing function may be applied to thedata (1108). The smoothing function may be applied when the values ofthe stock characteristics have a wide variance. The function may be anysmoothing function which results in a reduction of extreme values. Thewager controller or the application controller may apply the smoothingfunction to the data.

The distribution of values in the stock characteristics is analyzed(1110). The wager controller or the application controller may performthis analysis. The stock characteristics may be used to establish thepay table to the used by the wager controller. In an example embodiment,if the stock characteristics generally trend upward, then Paytable A maybe used, and if the stock characteristics generally trend downward, thenPaytable B may be used. A range of acceptable bet amounts (e.g., a floorand/or ceiling on the amount that may be bet per instance of thegambling mechanic) may be established based on the expected value of therange of possible outcomes. The smoothing function applied may solve fora specific return to player (RTP).

In some embodiments, a fitted curve is generated by mathematicallyfitting a curve to the stock data, and then deviations of the stock datafrom the fitted curve are used to generate random results that are usedto generate wager outcomes. In several such embodiments, characteristicsof the fitted curve are also used to determine characteristics of awagering proposition. In an example embodiment, linear interpolation isused to fit a straight line through pricing data over time for aparticular stock. The slope of the line is used to determine a paytablefor a wager outcome such that a positive slope, indicating a risingstock value over time, is used to determine a more favorable paytablefor the player, while a negative slope of the line, indicating a fallingstock value, is used to determine a less favorable paytable for theplayer.

Based on the stock characteristics and a Pseudo Random or Random NumberGenerator (P/RNG) 1112, the wager is executed (1118). The P/RNG 1112 maybe part of the wager controller, as described herein. In someembodiments, a seed value for the P/RNG 1112 may be generated based onthe stock characteristics. In this way, the wager outcome is based onthe stock characteristics, and in turn, based on real existing stock,but the wager outcome is not a proxy for buying and selling realexisting stocks. Which paytable to use during wager execution may bebased on the stock characteristics. Again, in this way, the outcome ofthe wager is based on the stock characteristics, and in turn based onreal existing stock, but the wager outcome is not a proxy for buying andselling stocks.

The user interacts with the interactive application, which is a part ofa market based interleaved wagering system (1114). During execution ofthe market based interleaved wagering system, a wager may be triggeredwhen the interactive controller communicates application telemetry tothe application controller. The application controller receives theapplication telemetry from the interactive controller, and theapplication controller determines whether a wager is triggered (1116).When a wager is triggered, the application controller communicates awager request to the wager controller. The wager controller receives thewager request from the application controller and the wager controllerexecutes a wager (1118). The wager execution results in a wager outcome,which is communicated from the wager controller to the applicationcontroller (1120). The application controller receives the wager outcomefrom the wager controller and application credits and/or real worldcredits may be awarded accordingly.

In some embodiments, the user may select more than one applicationgenerated stock and create an index of application generated stocks.FIG. 10 is a diagram of interactions between various components of thesystem and processes in accordance with various embodiments of theinvention illustrating an index of application generated stocks.

A user may create an index of application generated stocks (1202). Insome embodiments, the user communicates the selection of stocks to theinteractive controller. Accordingly, the interactive controller receivesthe selection of stock from the user.

Upon the selection of application generated stocks, a stock database1204 is accessed. The stock database 1204 may be accessed by anapplication controller or a wager controller. The application controlleror wager controller may communicate a request for stock information fromthe stock database 1204 and the stock database may receive the requestfor stock information from the application controller or the wagercontroller. The stock database 1204 may communicate stock information tothe application controller or the wager controller, and the applicationcontroller or the wager controller may receive the stock informationfrom the stock database 1204. The stock database 1204 is as describedherein.

Using the identification of the application generated stocks provided bythe user and stock information received from the stock database 1204,stock characteristics are determined (1206). Stock characteristics arethe aggregation of stock data. Each application generated stock providedby the user may be associated with one or more real existing stock. Thestock information for all of the stocks associated with the identifiedapplication generated stocks in the index are obtained from the stockdatabase 1204. In some embodiments, the application controller or wagercontroller determines the stock characteristics. In order to retrievethe stock data from the stock database 1204, the application controlleror the wager controller communicates a request for stock information tothe stock database 1204. The stock database 1204 receives the requestfor the stock information from the application controller or the wagercontroller. The stock database 1204 retrieves the stock information andcommunicates the retrieved stock information to the applicationcontroller or the wager controller. The application controller or thewager controller receives the stock information from the stock database1204.

A weighting may be applied to the data points of the differentapplication generated stocks of the index. In an example embodiment, theindex may include application generated Stocks L, R, and F. The user mayown 4 shares of L, 8 shares of R, and 15 shares of F. The real existingstocks associated with the stocks of the index may be weightedaccordingly, and a single aggregated value for the index may begenerated.

Once the data is obtained, a smoothing function may be applied to thedata (1208). The smoothing function may be applied when the values ofthe stock characteristics have a wide variance. The function may be anysmoothing function which results in a reduction of extreme values. Thewager controller or the application controller may apply the smoothingfunction to the data.

The stock volatility in the stock characteristics is analyzed (1210).The wager controller or the application controller may perform thisanalysis. The stock volatility may be used to establish the pay table tothe used by the wager controller. In an example embodiment, if thestocks are highly volatile, then Paytable A may be used, and if thestocks are not volatile, then Paytable B may be used. Volatility may bemeasured by establishing a particular variance value, and whether anindex of stocks are highly volatile or not volatile may be based on avariance threshold value. A range of acceptable bet amounts (e.g., afloor and/or ceiling on the amount that may be bet per instance of thegambling mechanic) may be established based on the expected value of therange of possible outcomes. The smoothing function applied may solve fora specific return to player (RTP). Stock characteristics (as describedin FIG. 9) may be used instead of or in addition to stock volatilitywhen using a stock index.

Based on the stock volatility and a Pseudo Random or Random NumberGenerator (P/RNG) 1212, the wager is executed (1218). The P/RNG 1212 maybe part of the wager controller, as described herein. A seed value forthe P/RNG 1212 may be generated based on the stock volatility. In thisway, the wager outcome is based on the stock volatility, and in turn,based on real existing stock, but the wager outcome is not a proxy forbuying and selling stocks. Which paytable to use during wager executionmay be based on the stock volatility. Again, in this way, the wageroutcome is based on the stock volatility, and in turn based on realexisting stock, but the wager outcome is not a proxy for buying andselling stocks.

The user interacts with the interactive application, which is a part ofa market based interleaved wagering system (1214). During execution ofthe market based interleaved wagering system, a wager may be triggeredwhen the interactive controller communicates application telemetry tothe application controller. The application controller receives theapplication telemetry from the interactive controller, and theapplication controller determines whether a wager is triggered (1216).When a wager is triggered, the application controller communicates awager request to the wager controller. The wager controller receives thewager request from the application controller and the wager controllerexecutes a wager (1218). The wager execution results in a wager outcome,which is communicated from the wager controller to the applicationcontroller (1220). The application controller receives the wager outcomefrom the wager controller and application credits and/or real worldcredits may be awarded accordingly.

FIG. 11 is a diagram of the structure of a market based interleavedwagering system in accordance with various embodiments of the invention.The market based interleaved wagering system includes an interactivecontroller 1302, an application controller 1304, and a wager controller1306, each as described herein. The market based interleaved wageringsystem further includes a stock database 1308. The stock databaseincludes data regarding application generated stock, includingidentification and values for the stock over time. The stock databasemay also include values and identifications of real existing stock overtime. In some embodiments, the identifications of the real existingstock may not be stored in order to anonymize the stock. In someembodiments, data associated with a real existing stock may beassociated with a category, in order to associate the data with anindustry, and the identification of the company may not be stored. Insome embodiments, the user may specify which real existing stocks toassociate with which application generated stocks.

The wager controller 1306 includes one or more pseudo random or randomnumber generators (P/RNG) 1310, as described herein. The wagercontroller 1306 also includes one or more paytables 1314, as describedherein. The wager controller 1306 also includes a stock controller 1312.The stock controller 1312 is responsible for using stock informationreceived from the stock database 1308 and interacting with the P/RNG1310 and/or the paytable 1314 to generate wager outcomes using thereceived stock information.

The stock controller 1312 may provide an input to the P/RNG 1310 as aseed value. The P/RNG 1310 receives the input from the stock controller1312. The P/RNG 1310 may then output a wager output based on the seedvalue. In some embodiments, the stock controller 1312 uses receivedstock information to generate a seed value for the P/RNG 1310. The stockcontroller 1312 may use the least significant digit of a particular realexisting stock value at a given time as the seed value. In an exampleembodiment, the received stock information from the stock database 1308may provide a value of $48.15 for a particular real existing stock. Thestock controller 1312 may take the least significant value, in this case5, and use it as the basis for a seed value for the P/RNG 1310. TheP/RNG 1310 generates a wager output using the seed value of 5. Theprocess may be repeated continuously, with the P/RNG 1310 generatingwager outputs using seed values generated by the stock controller 1312based on the value of the particular real existing stock at a giventime. The least significant value may be used, as it is likely to resultin the most random seed value.

The stock controller 1312 may determine which paytable 1314 to use basedon stock information received from the stock database 1308. In anexample embodiment, the wager controller 1306 may have two paytables,and the determination of which paytable to use for the P/RNG 1310 outputmay be based on the stock information received from the stock database1308. In some embodiments, the stock controller 1312, upon receiving anupdated stock value for a particular real existing stock, determineswhich paytable to use. In some embodiments, if the stock value hasincreased from the last time the value was obtained, a first paytablemay be used. Alternatively, if the stock value has decreased from thelast time the value was obtained, a second paytable may be used. In someembodiments, the second paytable has more favorable returns to the user.

FIG. 12 is a sequence diagram of interactions between components of amarket based interleaved wagering system in accordance with variousembodiments of the invention. The market based interleaved wageringsystem includes an interactive controller 1402, an applicationcontroller 1404, a stock database 1408, and a wager controller 1406,each as described herein.

The interactive controller 1402 provides an interactive application. Insome embodiments, the interactive application is an interactive game. Inan example embodiment, the interactive game may be a virtual stockmarket themed game where the user's goal is to accumulate assets basedon making investments in application generated stocks.

The interactive controller 1402 receives, from a user of the marketbased interleaved wagering system, an identification of stocks. Theidentified stocks may be application generated stocks, as describedherein. In the example of the stock market themed game, the identifiedstocks may be stocks that the user owns. The interactive controller 1402communicates, to the application controller 1404, the identification ofthe stocks (1410). The application controller 1404 receives, from theinteractive controller 1402, the identification of the stocks (1410).

The interactive controller 1402 also communicates, to the applicationcontroller 1404, application telemetry (1412). The applicationcontroller 1404 receives, from the interactive controller 1402, theapplication telemetry (1412). In the example of the stock market themedgame, the application telemetry may be an indication that the user wouldlike to buy application generated stock or sell application generatedstock.

The application controller 1404, upon receiving the applicationtelemetry, determines whether a wager should be triggered. When theapplication controller 1404 determines a wager should be triggered, theapplication controller 1404 communicates, to the wager controller 1406,a wager request and the stock identification received from theinteractive controller 1402 (1414). The wager controller 1406 receives,from the application controller 1404, the wager request and the stockidentification received from the interactive controller 1402 (1414).

Upon receiving the wager request, the wager controller 1404communicates, to the stock database 1408, a request for stockinformation for the identified stocks (1416). The stock database 1408receives the request for stock information for the identified stocksfrom the wager controller 1404 (1416). The stock database 1408 retrievesstock information associated with the identified application generatedstocks. The stock database 1408 may also retrieve stock information forreal existing stocks. The stock database 1408 communicates the retrievedstock information to the wager controller 1406 (1418). The wagercontroller 1406 receives, from the stock database 1408, the retrievedstock information (1418).

The wager controller 1406 generates a wager outcome based on thereceived stock information (1420). In some embodiments, the wageroutcome is generated using a P/RNG, one or more paytables, and a stockcontroller, as described herein. The stock controller may generate aseed value based on the received stock information. In some embodiments,the stock controller generates the seed value by extracting a particularvalue from the stock information, such as a least significant digit. Insome embodiments, the stock controller generates the seed value bygenerating a hash value based on the received stock information. In someembodiments, the stock controller compares the received stockinformation with past stock information, and a particular paytable isused by the wager controller 1406 based on the comparison of the stockinformation. In an example embodiment, if the received stock value ofthe stock information is higher than a previous stock value ofpreviously received stock information, a first paytable may be used togenerate a wager outcome based on a value generated by the P/RNG. Inthis example, a second paytable may be used when the received stockvalue is lower than a previous stock value. Based on the wager outcome,real world credits may be awarded to the user.

The wager controller 1406 communicates, to the application controller1404, a wager outcome (1422). The application controller 1404 receives,from the wager controller 1406, the wager outcome (1422). Based on thewager outcome, the application controller 1404 determines whetherapplication instructions and/or application resources should becommunicated to the interactive controller 1402. Upon determiningapplication instructions and/or application resources are to becommunicated to the interactive controller 1402, the applicationcontroller 1404 communicates, to the interactive controller 1402,application instructions and/or application resources (1424). Theinteractive controller 1402 receives the application instructions and/orapplication resources from the application controller 1404 (1424). Insome embodiments, the stock information may be used to affect theapplication resource award amount. In an example embodiment, if thevalue of the application generated stock increases in value, anadditional multiplier may be application the application resource award.If the application generated stock decreases in value, no multiplier maybe applied to the application resource award.

FIG. 13 is a sequence diagram of interactions between components of amarket based interleaved wagering system in accordance with variousembodiments of the invention. The market based interleaved wageringsystem includes an interactive controller 1502, an applicationcontroller 1504, a stock database 1508, and a wager controller 1506,each as described herein.

The interactive controller 1502 provides an interactive application. Insome embodiments, the interactive application is an interactive game. Inan example embodiment, the interactive game may be a virtual stockmarket themed game where the user's goal is to accumulate assets basedon making investments in application generated stocks.

The interactive controller 1502 receives, from a user of the marketbased interleaved wagering system, an identification of stocks. Theidentified stocks may be application generated stocks, as describedherein. In the example of the stock market themed game, the identifiedstocks may be stocks that the user owns. The interactive controller 1502communicates, to the application controller 1504, the identification ofthe stocks (1510). The application controller 1504 receives, from theinteractive controller 1502, the identification of the stocks (1510).

The interactive controller 1502 also communicates, to the applicationcontroller 1504, application telemetry (1512). The applicationcontroller 1504 receives, from the interactive controller 1502, theapplication telemetry (1512).

The application controller 1504, upon receiving the applicationtelemetry, determines whether a wager should be triggered (1514). Whenthe application controller 1504 determines a wager should be triggered,the application controller 1504 communicates, to the wager controller1506, a wager request (1516). The wager controller 1506 receives, fromthe application controller 1504, the wager request (1516).

The wager controller 1506 generates a wager outcome (1518). In someembodiments, the wager outcome generation is not based on stockinformation from the stock database 1508. Once the wager outcome isgenerated, the wager controller 1506 communicates, to the applicationcontroller 1504, the wager outcome (1520). The application controller1504 receives, from the wager controller 1506, the wager outcome (1520).

Upon receiving the wager outcome, the application controller 1504communicates a request to the stock database 1508 for stock information(1522). The stock database 1508 receives the request for stockinformation from the application controller 1504 (1522). The request forstock information may include an identifier of one or more stocks. Thestock database 1508 retrieves the stock information associated with theone or more stock identifiers.

The retrieved stock information is communicated from the stock database1508 to the application controller 1504 (1524). The applicationcontroller 1504 receives the retrieved stock information from the stockdatabase 1508 (1524). The application controller 1504, using thereceived stock information, may award application resources and/orapplication credits to the user based on the wager outcome. In anexample embodiment, if the wager outcome is a successful one, then thestock information may be amplified, so that a gain in value of thestocks is increased as a result of the wager. If the wager outcome is afailure, then the stock information may not be amplified, and a gain inthe value of the stocks is not increased.

Once the application controller 1504 determines the applicationresources and/or application instructions to award the user, theapplication controller 1504 communicates, to the interactive controller1502, the application resources and/or instructions (1526). Theinteractive controller 1502 receives the application resources and/orinstructions from the application controller 1504 (1526). Unlike theprocess illustrated in FIG. 12, the real world credits awarded based ona winning wager outcome are not based on real existing stocks. Onlywhether application credits are awarded is based on real existingstocks.

In various embodiments, markets other than a stock market may be used asthe data source used in generating a wager outcome. In an exampleembodiment, a commodities market may be substituted for the stockmarket, specific commodities may be substituted for specific stocks, andan interactive application of the market based interleaved wageringsystem is a simulation of commodities trading.

While the above description may include many specific embodiments of theinvention, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope ofthe invention, but rather as examples of embodiments thereof. It istherefore to be understood that the present invention can be practicedotherwise than specifically described, without departing from the scopeand spirit of the present invention. Thus, embodiments of the presentinvention described herein should be considered in all respects asillustrative and not restrictive. In particular, though an exemplaryinteractive stock market game is illustrated herein, any interactiveapplication, including any interactive game, may be used in the marketbased interleaved wagering system.

What is claimed:
 1. A distributed gaming system, comprising: anelectromechanical gaming machine constructed to receive real creditsfrom a user connected to a wager server by a communication link; thewager server connected to an application server by the communicationlink, wherein the wager server is constructed to: receive, via a networkfrom the application server, a wager request and an identification ofapplication generated stocks; distribute, over the network to a stockserver, a request for stock information associated with the receivedidentification of the application generated stocks; receive, via thenetwork from the stock server, stock information associated with thereceived identification of the application generated stocks; generate arandom result using a random number generator, using a key value basedon the received stock information; determine a wager outcome based onthe random result; distribute, via the network to the applicationserver, the wager outcome; and an interactive controller connected tothe application server by the network, wherein the interactivecontroller is constructed to: provide a market-based entertainment game;generate a visual display for the market-based entertainment game;receive, from the user, the identification of the application generatedstocks; distribute, over the network to an application server, theidentification of the application generated stocks; determineapplication telemetry; receive, via the network from the applicationserver, a wager outcome and an application resource based on theidentified application generated stocks and application telemetry; andmake available to user player the application resource during the user'splay of the market-based entertainment game; and the application serverconnected to the interactive controller and the wager server via thenetwork, wherein the application server is constructed to: receive, viathe network, the interactive controller, the identification of theapplication generated stocks and the application telemetry; distribute,via the network to the wager server, the wager request andidentification of the application generated stocks, based on theapplication telemetry; receive, via the network from the wager server,the wager outcome; and distribute, over the network to the interactivecontroller, application resources and application instructions based onthe received wager outcome.
 2. The distributed gaming system of claim 1,wherein the key value is based on the least significant digit of a stockvalue, wherein the received stock information comprises stock value. 3.The distributed gaming system of claim 1, wherein the wager outcome isbased on the random result and a paytable, wherein the paytable ischosen from a plurality of paytables based on the received stockinformation.
 4. The distributed gaming system of claim 3, wherein thepaytable is chosen if the received stock information indicates adownward trend in stock value.
 5. The distributed gaming system of claim3, wherein the paytable is chosen if the received stock informationindicates an upward trend in stock value.
 6. The distributed gamingsystem of claim 1, wherein the wager server is further constructed toapply a smoothing function to the stock information, and wherein thewager outcome is generated based on the result of applying the smoothingfunction to the stock information.
 7. The distributed gaming system ofclaim 1, wherein the application server and the wager server areimplemented on a same processing apparatus.
 8. The distributed gamingsystem of claim 1, wherein the communication link connecting theapplication server and the wager server utilizes the network.
 9. Adistributed gaming system, comprising: an electromechanical gamingmachine constructed to receive real credits from a user connected to areal world server by a communication link; a wager server constructedto: receive, over a network from an application server, a wager requestand an identification of application generated stocks, wherein theidentification is received from the user, via an interactive controller;distribute, via the network to a stock server, a request for stockinformation associated with the received identification of theapplication generated stocks; receive, via the network from the stockserver, stock information associated with the received identification ofthe application generated stocks; generate a random result using arandom number generator, using a key value based on the received stockinformation; determine a wager outcome based on the random result;distribute, via the network to the application server, the wageroutcome; and the application server operatively connecting the wagerserver to the interactive controller by the network, wherein theapplication server is constructed to: receive, via the network from theinteractive controller, the identification of the application generatedstocks and application telemetry; distribute, via the network to thewager server, the wager request and identification of the applicationgenerated stocks, based on the application telemetry; receive, via thenetwork from the wager server, the wager outcome; and distribute, viathe network to the interactive controller, application resources andapplication instructions to provide a market-based entertainment gamebased on the received wager outcome.
 10. The distributed gaming systemof claim 9, wherein the key value is based on the least significantdigit of a stock value, wherein the received stock information comprisesstock value.
 11. The distributed gaming system of claim 9, wherein thewager outcome is based on the random result and a paytable, wherein thepaytable is chosen from a plurality of paytables based on the receivedstock information.
 12. The distributed gaming system of claim 11,wherein the paytable is chosen if the received stock informationindicates a downward trend in stock value.
 13. The distributed gamingsystem of claim 11, wherein the paytable is chosen if the received stockinformation indicates an upward trend in stock value.
 14. Thedistributed gaming system of claim 9, wherein the wager server isfurther constructed to apply a smoothing function to the stockinformation, and wherein the wager outcome is generated based on theresult of applying the smoothing function to the stock information. 15.The distributed gaming system of claim 9, wherein the application serverand the wager server are implemented on a same processing apparatus. 16.The distributed gaming system of claim 9, wherein the communication linkconnecting the application server and the wager server utilizes thenetwork.
 17. A distributed gaming system, comprising: anelectromechanical gaming machine constructed to receive real creditsfrom a user connected to a real world server by a communication link; aninteractive controller constructed to: provide a market-basedentertainment game; generate a visual display for the market-basedentertainment game; receive, from the user, an identification ofapplication generated stocks; distribute, over a network to anapplication server, the identification of the application generatedstocks; determine application telemetry; and receive, via the networkfrom the application server, a wager outcome and an application resourcebased on the identified application generated stocks and applicationtelemetry; and the application server operatively connecting theinteractive controller to a wager server, wherein the application serveris constructed to: receive, via the network from the interactivecontroller, the identification of the application generated stocks andapplication telemetry; distribute, via the network to a wager server, awager request and identification of the application generated stocks,based on the application telemetry; receive, via the network from thewager server, a wager outcome, wherein the wager outcome is generatedbased on stock information received from a stock server and associatedwith the identified application generated stocks; and distribute, viathe network to the interactive controller, application resources andapplication instructions based on the received wager outcome.
 18. Thedistributed gaming system of claim 17, wherein the wager outcome isbased on the random result and a paytable, wherein the paytable ischosen from a plurality of paytables based on the received stockinformation.
 19. The distributed gaming system of claim 17, wherein theapplication server and the wager server are implemented on a sameprocessing apparatus.
 20. The distributed gaming system of claim 17,wherein the communication link connecting the application server and thewager server utilizes the network.